The National Energy Board (NEB) held a series of online information sessions last week ahead of an expected application by energy company Kinder Morgan to expand the Trans Mountain Pipeline.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline carries crude oil, refined products and natural gas from Strathcona County, near Edmonton, to the West Marine Terminal in Burnaby, B.C, and runs through Jasper National Park.
According to the project description filed with the NEB last May, the expansion project would see about 980 km of new pipeline built in an effort to twin the entire line, as well as the construction of 11 new pump stations along its length.
If the NEB approves the application, construction would begin in 2016 and the pipeline would be in service by 2018.
That approval could only come, however, after the NEB is finished its public consultation process.
Representatives said that anyone directly affected by the proposal, or anyone with relevant information or expertise is eligible for funding to be part of the consultation process. The funding is to help cover research, travel and other expenses.
After they receive the application in December, the NEB will start the consultation process with a series of oral hearings in areas affected by the proposed expansion.
Kinder Morgan representative Lizette Parsons Bell said her company is holding its own public consultations, as well. Right now they don鈥檛 have any scheduled in Jasper, but Kinder Morgan would conduct one if there is public interest, she said.
If the project moves forward, Parsons Bell said, there would only be limited construction in Jasper. This is because the pipeline is already twinned in Jasper, with one side sitting inactive.
Since the pipeline was already twinned in the park during the 2008 anchor loop project, the reactivation would probably only involve 鈥渟elective digging鈥� and 鈥渉ydrostatic tests鈥� to test the pipes鈥� durability. That is done by running pressurized water through the pipes.
Once completed, the twinning would allow 890,000 barrels of product to pass through the park a day, nearly three times the current 300,000 the pipeline can handle today.
Kim Weir, spokesperson for Parks Canada, said it鈥檚 too early in the process for Parks to know what impact the increased flow of product will have on the likelihood of spills or leaks in the park.
Weir also said Parks doesn鈥檛 yet have enough information to know how the extra land tax Kinder Morgan will pay will affect the park. According to the energy company, if the project goes forward it will pay an annual tax of $503,000, up from the $368,000 it currently pays.
Until it receives the facilities application from Kinder Morgan in December, the NEB also can鈥檛 know for certain what impact that increased flow of product will have. Those details will be fleshed out after the board gets the application and starts the consultation process.
The board encourages anyone who wants to be part of the consultation to contact its process advisor Reny Chakkalakal. Chakkalakal鈥檚 job is to support the public by providing information about the NEBs mandate and regulatory processes. Anyone interested can reach her at 1-800-899-1265, or by email at [email protected].
Trevor Nichols
[email protected]
