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National Energy Board announces a hearing on the South Peace Pipeline Project application

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08/02
For immediate release
12 March 2008

CALGARY - The National Energy Board (NEB) released Hearing Order GH-3-2008 today, announcing plans for an oral hearing on a recent application from Westcoast Energy Inc., carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast) to construct and operate the South Peace Pipeline Project. Westcoast estimates the value of the proposal to be $95-million.

The NEB hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, 26 August 2008 in a location to be determined based on public interest expressed, and suitability for a public hearing.

The proposed South Peace Pipeline Project is an approximately 89.5 km extension of Westcoast's existing raw gas gathering system near Fort St. John, British Columbia. The new pipeline would carry gas from the "South Peace Area" south of Fort St. John and the Peace River to connect to Westcoast's existing McMahon processing plant, in Taylor, British Columbia.

The public is invited to participate in the NEB hearing in one of three ways:

by filing a letter of comment;
by making an oral statement; or,
by seeking intervenor status.

Details on the various participation options can be found on the NEB website at www.neb-one.gc.ca. From the home page, select "Regulatory Documents - Submit". Then select "Submit documents electronically" under "On-line forms for participation in a hearing." In order to become an Intervenor or to make an oral statement, people must first submit an application to the NEB. A copy of the letter or application for intervenor status must also be sent to Westcoast's contact person, as noted in the NEB Hearing Order. In addition to electronic submission, documents may be mailed or faxed to:

Secretary of the Board
National Energy Board
444 Seventh Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 0X8
Fax: 403-292-5503
Fax (toll free): 1-877-288-8803

The deadline for intervenor applications is 12:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time (MDT) on Wednesday, 9 April 2008. The deadline for letters of comment and oral statement applications is 12:00 p.m. MDT on Monday, 23 June 2008.

Additional information on public participation in NEB hearing processes is available on the NEB web site under "Public Participation and Land Matters" by clicking on "Participate in a Public Hearing".

In tandem with the release of the Hearing Order, the NEB also began the public comment process on the draft scope of the environmental assessment (EA) for the proposed Project. It is attached to the NEB's Hearing Order as Appendix V.

The draft scope of the EA is an informative document that describes the scope of the federal environmental assessment for the Project. The final scope will be issued following consideration of the comments received on the draft. The Board, along with the relevant federal authorities outlined in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEA Act) will ensure that the EA is conducted in accordance with its agreed scope.

The public is invited to comment on the proposed scope by providing a clear rationale for any proposed scope changes to the NEB. Written submissions may be sent by courier, mail, fax, or through the NEB's online Electronic Document Submission form. Comments on the draft scope must be submitted by Wednesday, 2 April 2008 by noon MDT. The NEB cannot accept comments by e-mail.

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection, and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest, within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

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For further information:

Andrew Cameron
Communications Officer
National Energy Board
Telephone: 403-299-3930
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

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