OREANDA-NEWS. October 07, 2016. The National Energy Board (NEB) today released a report recommending Governor in Council (GIC) approve the application by NOVA Gas Transmission LTD. (NGTL) for the Towerbirch Expansion Project (Project), subject to conditions.

The recommendations and decisions follow a public hearing process that began on December 22, 2015 when the NEB determined the application was complete. The Report [Filing A79841] contains both the NEB’s recommendation to GIC, and its decisions regarding NGTL’s proposed tolling methodology, as well as activities and temporary infrastructure required for meter station and pipeline construction.

This Project is now subject to the Government of Canada’s interim measures for pipeline reviews. Interim measures may include undertaking deeper consultation with Indigenous peoples; facilitating further public engagement; and assessing the upstream greenhouse gas emissions associated with this project.

The GIC will then consider the NEB Report and the information stemming from the interim measures, and decide whether to order the NEB to issue a Certificate.

The terms and conditions that the NEB considers necessary for the project to be built can be found in Appendices II and III of the Report. The conditions contain a wide variety of subjects including pipeline integrity, safety, the protection of the environment and socio-economic matters.

Quick Facts

  • The Towerbirch Expansion Project includes the construction and operation of approximately 88 km of new gas pipeline and associated facilities in northwest Alberta and northeast British Columbia, consisting of the Tower Lake Section (TLS) (approx. 32 km of 762 mm pipe) and the Groundbirch Mainline Loop (GBML Loop) (approx. 55 km of 914 mm pipe).
  • The NEB received and considered 39 applications to participate in the hearing. The NEB granted standing to participate to all those who requested, which included 25 intervenors and 14 commenters.

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The National Energy Board is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada's energy industry with the safety of Canadians and protection of the environment as its top priority. Its purpose is to regulate pipelines, energy development and trade in the Canadian public interest. For more information on the NEB and its mandate, please visit www.neb-one.gc.ca.