OREANDA-NEWS. The National Energy Board (NEB) announced details today of one of the most innovative hearings in its history. Intervenors in the hearing for the Energy East and Eastern Mainline projects will have multiple written and oral opportunities to provide input to the Hearing Panel, including oral cross-examination. The Hearing Order integrates feedback gathered through a survey of participants, and sets the process steps between now and March 2018.

In addition to a full written process, intervenors will be able to present up to three times in front of the Hearing Panel. The first opportunity will be at Panel sessions taking place between August and December 2016 at 10 locations along the pipeline route. The objective of these sessions is to establish key issues of interest to intervenors, and to assist them in preparing well-developed written evidence and information requests later in the process. The second opportunity will be oral cross-examination in the summer of 2017, and the third will be the final argument in the fall. Aboriginal intervenors also have the additional option of providing Oral Traditional Evidence.

“The participant survey demonstrated to us that intervenors want the opportunity to stand in front of the Hearing Panel to voice their views. We will continue to listen to the input of participants as we refine the review process over the coming months.”

Jean-Denis Charlebois, NEB Director, TransCanada Project Applications

  • A total of 337 applicants have been granted intervenors status in the Energy East hearing, and 271 were granted commenters status.
  • Oral Traditional Evidence will make up an important component of the evidence the NEB will consider as it decides whether or not to recommend approving the projects.
  • In addition to the hearing, the Energy East comprehensive review process will include expanded public engagement activities to be carried out by a team of Board Members who will report relevant findings to the Hearing Panel and an assessment of upstream greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) to be conducted by the Government of Canada.