Energy East project issues list drawn up

Continued from FP1

“That would really be a first for the NEB,” spokesperson Marc Drolet said.

He said the regulator is looking for feedback on that issue and others as it is working “to define the scope of the review” for Energy East.

Emissions impacts have been a controversial issue for the NEB, which did not previously evaluate emissions from pipeline projects in determining whether the projects are in the public interest.

However, intense pressure from environmentalists and criticism during the last federal election has led the federal Liberal party to create a panel to review and modernize the NEB and the regulator may soon consider emissions.

The NEB also restarted its review process for Energy East last year after three panellists reviewing the project stepped down amid allegations two of them had met with a TransCanada safety issues and landowner considerations — all of which were commonplace in past NEB reviews.

However, Drolet said there were a number of other new issues the NEB would also consider, including the potential environmental and economic effects of power line construction and marine shipping as a result of the pipeline project.

The list of new potential considerations also includes the potential impact of government emissions strategies — like carbon taxes — on oil supply and markets “underpinning the need for the project and its economic and financial considerations.”

TransCanada spokesperson Tim Duboyce said, “We view the NEB process as a way for Canadians to weigh in.”

Asked whether he was concerned about the new issues the NEB review panel might consider, Duboyce said: “There’s a lot of material there and we’re going to take the time necessary to go through it.”