Energy East Pipeline Meetings Seek Input

Thunder Bay – ENVIRONMENT – The Common Voice Northwest Energy East Task Force is looking for public input into what a significant water crossing looks like along TransCanada Pipeline’s route for their Energy East conversion project.

Common Voice Northwest has received intervenor funding from the National Energy Board to develop a Northwestern Ontario definition of a ‘significant water crossing’.”

TransCanada Pipelines has promised to provide enhanced protection to those areas where it crosses a significant water crossing and the Task Force wants the public to help define what those crossings as well as sensitive areas look like.

Tanice Marcella, the Chair of the Energy East Task Force announced that public meetings will be held in 12 different communities along or near the line from January 16 to 27. “In addition to the public meetings, our consultants, KBM Resources Group, will be meeting with interested officials from individual Municipalities and First Nations along with various Provincial Ministry representatives with knowledge of the ecology, wildlife, fisheries resources, potable water sourcing along the line” said Marcella.

“We will need to rely on the public and officials, particularly those who use the land and understand its true nature, to inform us as to the elements in their area that will need to be protected in the event of a pipeline spill, should the NEB approve the conversion” she said.

KBM Resources Group will be gathering the information, developing a Northwestern Ontario definition of a significant water crossing and then reporting back to the participants prior to its finalization.  They will also identify all significant areas where the NEB should require enhanced treatment. The final results will be presented to the National Energy Board during its hearings in Thunder Bay and Kenora.

Further information can be found at www.kbmrg.com/energyeast.

The following are the meeting dates and locations: