NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. – West Path Delivery project

List of Issues

The Board has identified, but is not obliged to limit itself to, the following issues for consideration in the hearing with respect to the NGTL proposed Project. Under each main issue, the Board elaborates on the types of topics it will consider in assessing the Project application. These topics are not exhaustive and do not preclude discussion of other topics relevant to the main issues.

1. The need for the proposed Project.
2. The economic feasibility of the proposed Project, including:
   • the supply available to the Project;
   • the markets available for the Project;
   • the contractual commitments for the Project;
   • the financing of the Project, the ownership structure and how TransCanada PipeLines Limited will support the financial obligations of NGTL for the entire lifecycle of the facilities including the construction and operation of the Project; and
   • the method of financing the potential costs associated with the risks and liabilities that arise during construction and operation of the Project including a significant incident.
3. The potential commercial impacts of the proposed Project, including:
   • the proposal to roll-in the cost of the Project’s facilities to the NGTL system rate base and to apply the existing NGTL system toll methodology;
   • the impact to NGTL system tolls;
   • the impact to NGTL’s abandonment funding;
   • the notification of commercial third parties; and
   • the impact on other pipelines and other modes of transportation.
4. The potential environmental and socio-economic effects of the proposed Project as set out in the NEB’s Filing Manual, including:
   • any cumulative environmental effects that are likely to result from the Project;
   • soils, terrain, vegetation, water, wetlands, wildlife and wildlife habitat, fish and fish habitat, species at risk, protected areas, and atmospheric environment;
   • human occupancy and resource use, including noise, rural and urban residential areas, industrial and agricultural areas, recreation area and parks, and compatibility with local and regional land use and development plans;
   • heritage resources, traditional land and resource use, social and cultural wellbeing, human health, acoustic environment, navigation and navigation safety, infrastructure and services; and
   • employment and economy, including the economic benefits to Indigenous communities, the Canadian public, municipalities and governments generated by the Project construction and operation.
5. The potential impacts of the Project on landowners and land users, and their use of the land, including:
   • NGTL’s consultation efforts with potentially affected stakeholders, including landowners, local residents, land and waterway users and municipalities regarding potential effects of the Project;
   • the appropriateness of the land acquisition process for the Project.
6. Potential impacts of the Project on the interests of Indigenous peoples, including:
   • NGTL’s consultation efforts with Indigenous peoples on this Project.
7. The appropriateness of the general route and land requirements for the proposed Project, including:
   • The process and criteria for route selection, such as considerations of construction and operating safety, environmental impacts, and socio-economic impacts; and
   • Requirements for right-of-way and temporary workspace.
8. The suitability of the design and construction methods of the proposed Project, including:
   • Compliance with CSA Z662-15 requirements;
   • Interactions with other projects, such as the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir project; and
   • Feasibility of the horizontal directional drilling crossings.
9. Contingency planning for releases, accidents or malfunctions, during construction and operation of the Project, including:
   • the likelihood of failures, accidents, and malfunctions causing a release; and
   • potential consequences of failure, especially for areas with high population density.
10. Safety and security during construction and operation of the proposed Project, including:
    • proposed programs, plans, and measures for emergency preparedness and response; and
    • third-party damage prevention.
11. The terms and conditions to be included in any approval the Board may issue.

Key Milestones

• October 24, 2018 – Procedural Update No. 4 issued [Filing A95113]
• October 11, 2018 – Procedural Update No. 3 issued (Schedule for Oral Statements and Oral Traditional Evidence) [Filing A94808]
• September 19, 2018 – Procedural update No. 2 issued [Filing A94091]
• August 22, 2018 – Procedural Update No. 1 issued [Filing A93690]
• August 10, 2018 – NEB issues details on process steps, Oral Statements and Oral Traditional Evidence [Filing A93472]
• July 20, 2018 – NEB issues List of Parties [Filing A93121]
• June 28, 2018 – Hearing Order released [Filing A92754]
• February 12, 2018 – NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. submits Project Application [Filing A89944]

Resources

If you would like to learn more about how the NEB’s hearing process and how to participate, as well as how the Board regulates pipelines, please visit the following links:

• Application to participate (video)
• Hearing process (video)
• NEB Hearing Process Handbook

Apply to Participate

To be a participant in a NEB hearing process, you must be directly affected or have relevant information or expertise. You can apply to participate as an intervenor or by letter of comment.

Participant Funding Program

Participant funding is available to facilitate the participation in this public hearing. Refer to the Participant Funding Program page for information on deadlines, eligibility, how to apply for funding, and how to submit claims.

Contacts

Company contacts

If you have questions about the Project, please contact TransCanada or contact Matt Quail.

Mr. Dan Wyman
Regulatory Project Manager
NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.
450 – 1 Street SW
Calgary, AB T2P 5H1
Telephone: 403-920-6296
Facsimile: 403-920-2347
Email: dan_wyman@transcanada.com

NEB Contacts

For questions related to the Board’s processes, please contact us by email WestPath@cer-rec.gc.ca. 

For assistance filing documents on the Board’s website, please contact:

Rachel Clark
Process Advisor Team
Canada Energy Regulator
Email: rachel.clark@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone: 403-389-4240
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803

For media inquiries, please contact:

Chantal Macleod
Communications Officer
Canada Energy Regulator
Email: chantal.macleod@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone: 403-966-5036
Telephone: 403-292-4800
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803