Release: Federal Government approves Northern Gateway pipeline

Proponent must
demonstrate how conditions will be met, undertake further consultations
with Aboriginal communities as part of next steps in regulatory process

Government of Canada - June 17

Release: Natural Resources Canada

The Honourable Greg Rickford, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources,
today issued the following statement outlining the Government of
Canada’s decision after the Joint Review Panel’s independent review of
the Northern Gateway Pipelines proposal to construct and operate two
parallel pipelines to transport crude oil between Bruderheim, Alberta
and Kitimat, British Columbia, and a marine terminal at the port of
Kitimat. The proposal was submitted by Northern Gateway Pipelines
Limited Partnership to the National Energy Board (NEB) for an
environmental assessment and regulatory examination in 2010. This
constituted the beginning of the regulatory process.

The Joint Review Panel for the Northern Gateway Project was an
independent body established by the Minister of the Environment and the
National Energy Board to review the project. The Panel’s rigorous
science-based review included feedback from over 1,450 participants in
21 different communities, reviewing over 175,000 pages of evidence and
receiving 9,000 letters of comment. The NEB is responsible for
regulating some 73,000 kilometres of pipelines transporting crude oil,
natural gas and petroleum products across Canada.

“In December 2013, the Joint Review Panel found that construction and
operation of the Northern Gateway Pipelines project is in the public
interest, subject to 209 conditions being met by the proponent. After
carefully reviewing the report, the Government accepts the independent
Panel’s recommendation to impose 209 conditions on Northern Gateway
Pipelines’ proposal.

“Today constitutes another step in the process. Moving forward, the
proponent must demonstrate to the independent regulator, the NEB, how it
will meet the 209 conditions. It will also have to apply for regulatory
permits and authorizations from federal and provincial governments. In
addition, consultations with Aboriginal communities are required under
many of the 209 conditions that have been established and as part of the
process for regulatory authorizations and permits. The proponent
clearly has more work to do in order to fulfill the public commitment it
has made to engage with Aboriginal groups and local communities along
the route.”

The National Energy Board will now issue Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity.

Read more: Government of Canada Release

Read more: Here are the 209 conditions