Project Background

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of TC Energy, is planning to construct and operate approximately 85 kilometers of 48-inch normal size pipe pipeline, as well as construction-related temporary infrastructure, associated control valves, mainline valves and a cathodic protection system. This new pipeline will be constructed in two sections, one near Rocky Mountain House and the other between Rocky Mountain House and Edson. These sections of pipeline and related infrastructure will become part of the existing NGTL System that spans much of Alberta and parts of British Columbia. The project will increase pipeline capacity to transport natural gas from the Peace River Project Area to intra-basin markets located in central and southern Alberta.

The majority of the new pipeline (approximately 86 per cent) will parallel the existing NGTL right-of-way or other existing linear disturbances such as pipelines, roads or powerlines. Of the land area crossed by the pipeline, approximately 98 per cent are Crown lands with the remainder being private freehold lands. No provincial parks, protected areas or ecological reserves, reserve lands or federal Crown lands are crossed by these new pipeline sections.

Construction for the Edson Mainline is expected to begin in the third quarter of 2021 and be completed by the end of 2022.

Project Map

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Filing and Hearing

NGTL filed its Project Application [Filing A98624] for the Edson Mainline Expansion Project with the National Energy Board (NEB) on April 3, 2019, before the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) Act came into force. The application included an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under Section 52 and an application under Section 58 of the NEB Act. The Commission of the CER (Commission) assessed the Section 52 application, as well as conducted an environmental assessment of the project as the project was also a designated project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA, 2012).

The NEB issued a Notice of Public Hearing on May 31, 2019 [Filing A99729] and its Hearing Order GH-001-2019 on August 26, 2019 [Filing C01205]. The letter accompanying the Hearing Order noted the NEB’s transition to the CER on August 28, 2019, and that the application review would continue under the CER. The Hearing Order outlined the procedural steps, noting the hearing process would be conducted in writing, except for the sharing of oral Indigenous knowledge.

During the CER’s review of the project, all evidence, letters of comment, decisions and other relevant documents were filed and placed on the online document repository [Folder 3760382]. All documents are accessible by the public.

Recommendation Report and Approval

Pursuant to  Section 52 of the NEB Act, the Commission submitted its Recommendation Report [Filing C09740] on the Project to the Minister of Natural Resources on November 19, 2020. The report recommended, along with the Commission’s decisions and reasons, to the Governor-in-Council that the project be approved with 24 conditions for the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and 23 conditions for the Section 58 Order.

On June 17, 2021, the Governor-in-Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Natural Resources, issued Order in Council (OIC) P.C. 2021-0605 directing the Commission of the CER to issue a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the Edson Mainline Expansion Project [Filing C13734]. The OIC also added one condition to the Certificate requiring NGTL to offer funding to Indigenous peoples to support the review of NGTL’s condition filings. The Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity GC-133 [Document C13734-3] was issued on June 23, 2021, with 25 conditions.

Date modified:

2023-05-11