2017 NGTL System Expansion Project

National Energy Board approves NGTL’s Plan, Profile and Book of Reference

Once a company has received a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to build a pipeline, one of the first steps is to file a Plan, Profile, and Book of Reference (PPBoR) with the NEB. This is a requirement under paragraphs 34(1)(a) and 34(1)(b) of the National Energy Board Act.

NGTL filed its proposed Plan, Profile, and Book of Reference, sample notices for service and publication along with its publication plan for the project on November 2, 2016 [Document 3070812]. The Board approved [Document 3084009] the notices and the plan on November 25, 2016.

A plan and profile is a drawing of the pipeline as seen from above (aerial view) and from the side (profile view) showing the exact proposed location of the pipeline. The book of referennewspapersce identifies the lands, provides the names of the landowners and landoccupants, and shows the dimensions (length, width and total area) of the right-of-way required for the pipeline.

NGTL was required to provide a written notice to all landowners with an interest in the lands along the proposed detailed route as well as publish its notice in various. You can review these newspaper notices [Document 3117736] on our website. The newspaper notice included a map and a list of the lands proposed to be crossed by the pipeline.

Landowners (and other persons anticipating that their lands may be adversely affected) had 30 days from the date they received the written notice to file a written statement of opposition to the proposed detailed route with the NEB. The NEB did not receive any objections to the detailed route.

On January 19, 2017, the NEB approved [Filing A81383] NGTL’s Plan, Profile, and Book of Reference.

What’s Next?

• Section 52 Certificate Conditions – (Adobe .pdf page 191 of 208) [Document 2982128]
• Section 58 Order Conditions – (Adobe .pdf page 205 of 208) [Document 2982128]
• Documents filed to demonstrate condition compliance [Filing 3028130]
• NEB Condition Compliance Table

Project Information

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) filed its regulatory application for the 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project (Project) on 31 March 2015. NGTL proposes to construct and operate new gas pipeline facilities in northern Alberta as part of its existing NGTL System. The expansion would include five new and separate pipeline section loops, totaling 230 kilometres, and the addition of two compression facilities. Approximately 90% of the project would parallel existing linear disturbances, such as pipelines and roads. The new facilities would consist of:

• Northwest Mainline Loop - Boundary Lake Section (approx. 91 km)
• Northwest Mainline Loop - Bear Canyon Section (approx. 27 km)
• Grande Prairie Mainline Loop No. 2 - McLeod River Section (approx. 36 km)
• Liege Lateral Loop No. 2 - Pelican Lake Section (approx. 56 km)
• Kettle River Lateral Loop - Christina River Section (approx. 20 km)
• Alces River Compressor Station Unit Addition
• Otter lake Compressor Station Unit Addition

On June 1, 2016: Board released Recommendation Report [Filing A77316] recommending that the project be approved, subject to 36 conditions that will be enforced by the NEB.

On October 28, 2016, Governor in Council directed the National Energy Board (NEB) to issue a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity [Document 3074954] for the 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project. This Certificate and the Orders authorizing the construction and operation of the Project are subject to 48 conditions that will be enforced by the NEB.

• Environment and Climate Change Canada  – Review of Related Upstream Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimates
• Natural Resources Canada – Online Questionnaire Report
• Major Projects Management Office – Crown Consultation and Accommodation Report

Project Map

Review of the project – Key Milestones

• October 28, 2016: Governor in Council directs NEB to issue Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity [Document 3074954]
• June 1, 2016: Board releases Recommendation Report [Filing A77316]
• March 9 2016: NGTL files reply argument [Filing A75871]; Hearing record closes
• January 6, 2016: Board announces updated hearing timetable [Filing A74990]
• December 10, 2015: Board releases an errata to draft conditions [Filing A74623]
• November 30,2015: Board releases draft conditions for comment [Filing A74382]
• October 27 – November 5, 2015 – Board hears Oral Traditional Evidence
• September 9, 2015: Board releases draft conditions [Filing A72478]
• July 31 2015: Board issues Hearing Order GH-002-2015 [Filing A71593
• July 21 2015: Board issues List of Participants [Filing A71363]
• June 18 – July 9 2015: Application to Participate process
• March 31 2015: NGTL files its application [Filing A69317]

Hearing Documents

During the National Energy Board's review of this project, the evidence, letters of comment, Board decisions and other relevant documents were filed with the National Energy Board and placed on the Board's online document repository [Folder 2758964]. These documents are accessible to the public.

Lifecycle Regulation

While most Canadians only hear about the NEB’s involvement at the beginning of projects, it actually regulates Canada’s federal energy infrastructure throughout its entire lifecycle. We do not simply make a decision on a project and walk away. When approved projects are being built and operated, we inspect and audit them. When a pipeline has reached the end of its usefulness, we hold a hearing to review abandonment applications to ensure that it is abandoned in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.

In other words, the NEB regulates from “start to finish”, which can span the course of many decades. And we hold pipeline companies responsible for the full lifecycle of the pipelines they operate.

Here is the lifecycle of a regulated facility, showing the NEB’s involvement at each phase:

View larger PDF version [PDF 6815 KB]

Text version of this graphic

NEB oversight throughout the lifecycle: Regulations - Conditions - Inspections - Audits - Enforcement.
NEB requires companies to consult throughout the entire lifecycle, with those potentially affected.

• Planning
• Application to Construct and Operate
• NEB Public Hearing Decision/Recommendation
• Construction
• NEB Decision on Safe Operation
• Application for Leave to Open
• Operation and Maintenance
• Application to Abandon
• NEB Public Hearing Decision
• Abandonment

Project Requirements and Conditions

The NEB has imposed 36 conditions on this project that strengthen public safety, protection of the environment, and ensure continued consultation between the company, landowners and Aboriginal peoples.

Conditions are legal requirements that a company must meet to be allowed to construct and operate a project. Conditions are project-specific and are designed to protect the public and the environment by reducing possible risks identified during the hearing.

Conditions may require a company to submit documentation such as:

• results of additional environmental and socio-economic assessments, species-specific studies, or traditional land use investigations;
• engineering design details, and supporting assessments or information;
• environmental protection plans;
• mitigation and monitoring documentation;
• construction schedules and progress reports; and
• employee training programs and manuals.

The NEB evaluates the information provided by the company against the specific requirements that must be met for each condition and follows up with the company if more information is needed.

• Section 52 Certificate Conditions – (Adobe .pdf page 191 of 208) [Document 2982128]
• Section 58 Order Conditions – (Adobe .pdf page 205 of 208) [Document 2982128]
• Documents filed to demonstrate condition compliance [Folder 3028130]
• NEB Condition Compliance Table

How does the NEB monitor pipeline safety?

We have a number of tools that we use to ensure that the companies that we regulate are meeting their commitments. The NEB uses Compliance Verification Activities to observe and gather information about the state of compliance in a specific area of a company’s operations, or to investigate whether companies are taking the appropriate preventive or corrective actions. Compliance Verification Activities include:

• inspections (of facilities under construction or in operation)
• emergency exercise evaluations
• emergency procedures manuals reviews
• formal compliance meetings (to check the progress of programs or corrective actions)
• management system audits
• reviews of post-construction monitoring reports

These activities are designed to determine if regulatory requirements are being met, to assess if enforcement is required, and to provide feedback to a company. If our staff sees something that is not in compliance with our regulations, they follow up to make sure that corrective actions have been put in place and apply appropriate enforcement actions if necessary.

Under the National Energy Board Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR), companies must immediately notify the National Energy Board (NEB) of any incident that relates to the construction, operation or abandonment of a pipeline.

As part of ongoing oversight of pipelines, companies are required to submit Operations and Maintenance Notifications, if they meet certain criteria (such as working near bodies of water). Operations and Maintenance Notifications, filed by NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) for all of its pipelines, can be found on our website [Folder 561197].

Each year the NEB conducts more than 250 Compliance Verification Activities of regulated companies. These tools are effective in allowing the Board to proactively detect and correct non-compliances before they become issues.

News Releases

• 2016-06-01
  National Energy Board recommends approval for NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.’s 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project
• 2015-02-12
  Funding Available to Participate in the NEB’s Regulatory Process for the NGTL 2017 System Expansion Project

Contact Information

Contact NOVA Gas Transmission Limited (NGTL)

If you have questions about the project, including whether or not the pipeline could cross your property, please contact NGTL, a subsidiary of TransCanada Pipelines, at 1-855-458-6713 or via email at ngtl_2017@TransCanada.com

• 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project

NEB Contacts

For questions about the 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project, please contact:

Heather.Dodds@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

For media inquiries, please contact:

Media Relations Team
Canada Energy Regulator
Email: media@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265