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National Energy Board releases its Land Matters Consultation Initiative report for comment

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08/41
For immediate release
16 December 2008

CALGARY - The National Energy Board (NEB) released its draft final report on the Land Matters Consultation Initiative (LMCI) for comment today. The report presents the NEB's views on issues discussed throughout the consultation process and the actions the NEB is proposing to take.

"We are very proud of the work that went into this LMCI report," said National Energy Board Chair Gaétan Caron. "LMCI produced a road map and action plan to move forward in the NEB journey of continual improvement."

LMCI provided a forum for all interested parties and the Board to discuss issues and generate options to support the long-term responsible development of the energy sector, while respecting the rights and interests of those affected. One of the outcome goals of LMCI was to foster and maintain effective working relationships between companies and landowners.

NEB staff will meet regularly with landowner and industry representatives, as a one year pilot project, and the NEB will increase its efforts in communication, outreach, and process guidance.

As a result of the learnings from LMCI, the NEB is improving its regulatory approach on land matters, consultation, and socio-economic concerns, to mirror the systematic approach it already applies to safety, security and environmental protection in the public interest.

The Land Matters Consultation Initiative was an extensive process. The NEB hosted 45 meetings and workshops in 25 different communities across Canada, and received written submissions from 13 individuals and groups. The NEB also released four discussion papers on four different topics for comment.

"The NEB appreciates the willingness of so many people to contribute their time and energy to its initiative," added Caron. "Many people travelled long hours to participate in LMCI meetings on their personal time, and their input has added considerably to the richness and depth of the NEB's body of knowledge," he noted.

The NEB considered the LMCI topics in four streams:

Company Interactions with Landowners;
Improving the Accessibility of NEB Processes;
Pipeline Abandonment - Financial Issues; and
Pipeline Abandonment - Physical Issues.

The draft final report released today deals with Streams 1, 2 and 4.

The NEB invites comments on the LMCI Draft Final Report until 31 March 2009. Comments on the LMCI Draft Final Report may be filed electronically through the NEB's electronic document repository at www.neb-one.gc.ca (by clicking on "Regulatory Documents - Submit" and "Submit documents electronically" to file a document.) Comments may also be provided by letter, by mail, courier or facsimile, to:

Ms. Claudine Dutil-Berry
Secretary of the Board
National Energy Board
444 - 7th Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
T2P 0X8
Facsimile: 403 292-5503

The NEB plans to provide additional clarity on unanswered questions about pipeline abandonment by conducting Hearing RH-2-2008 on the Financial Issues of Pipeline Abandonment, and will initiate discussions to develop a multi-stakeholder group to address knowledge gaps on the physical issues of abandonment.

Detailed meeting notes and more information about LMCI are available to the public through the Land Matters Consultation Initiative (LMCI) Web Page.

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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