REGULATORY / NEB Hearings on Maritime Pipeline
NEB TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE PROPOSED DETAILED ROUTE FOR
THE MARITIMES & NORTHEAST PIPELINE PROJECT IN THE MARITIMES
CALGARY, June 22 /CNW/ - The National Energy Board (''Board'') will hold
public hearings on written statements of opposition it has received to the
proposed detailed route of Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Management Ltd.'s
(''M&NP'') natural gas pipeline from Goldboro, Nova Scotia to St. Stephen, New
Brunswick.
The public hearings will commence on 23 July 1998 in Fredericton, New
Brunswick, on 28 July 1998 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and on 4 August 1998 in
New Glasgow, Nova Scotia. Interventions are to be filed by 10 July 1998.
In December 1997, the Board approved the general route for the M&NP
pipeline following a public hearing held from 4 April to 16 July 1997 in Nova
Scotia and New Brunswick. In February 1998, M&NP applied to the Board for
approval of the Plans, Profiles and Books of Reference (''PPBoR'') respecting
the detailed route for the maritime pipeline. The Board has received to date
35 written statements of opposition to the PPBoR.
As background, the Detailed Route Hearing process is designed to involve
all landowners and affected parties in the examination of the final pipeline
route. The process begins when the company files its PPBoR following the
approval of the general route of the pipeline. The PPBoR identifies the
precise location of the pipeline, the lands to be crossed, the types and
amounts of land rights required and the affected landowners and tenants. The
company notifies each landowner from whom land and land rights are required.
The landowners have 30 days from the date of notification to file oppositions
to the PPBoR as it relates to their land.
At the Detailed Route Hearings, parties opposing the detailed route
proposed for the pipeline will have the opportunity to cross-examine M&NP's
witnesses and present their own evidence concerning the best possible route
and the most appropriate methods and timing of the construction of the
pipeline. At the hearings, the Board will not consider matters which were the
subject of the public hearing for the general route. Furthermore, the Board
has no authority to settle matters of compensation between landowners and
pipeline companies. Matters of financial compensation may be dealt with in
separate proceedings, such as negotiation and arbitration proceedings which
are the responsibility of the Minister of Natural Resources Canada.
For a copy of Hearing Order
MH-3-98:
At the NEB Office: Library
Ground Floor
311 Sixth Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
By Mail: National Energy Board
Publications Office
311 Sixth Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 3H2
Telephone: (403) 299-3562
Telecopier: (403) 292-5503
Email: orders@neb.gc.ca
This news release and Hearing Order MH-3-98 are also available on the
Board's Internet Site at www.neb.gc.ca under the headings ''What's New!'' and
''Regulatory Update''
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For further information: Denis Tremblay, Communications Officer, (403)
299-2717, Telecopier: (403) 292-5503 |
