Canada’s NEB orders TransCanada to ensure environmental measures at Keystone project

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) has ordered TransCanada Keystone Pipeline to take measures to mitigate environmental impacts of its Keystone XL project in Alberta.

The board order issued by the regulator requires the company to ensure that environmental protection measures continue on the project despite the US Department of State’s decision of 3 November 2015 not to allow the company a presidential permit to build and operate the US section of the pipeline.

At the time of performing inspections on the Keystone XL project, the NEB observed that works related to reclamation were not completed at two horizontal directional drill staging areas.

The areas included a portion of the pipeline right-of-way and construction access roads at the Red Deer River and South Saskatchewan River crossings.

Notices of non-compliance were also issued to the company with regard to erosion control and weed management.

On 27 April 2010, the Keystone XL project was approved and the regulator required completion of conditions at various stages during its construction.

In its order, the NEB urged Keystone to take necessary precautionary measures for protection of the environment.

The NEB order requires TransCanada to submit results of recent surveys of wildlife, vegetation, wetlands and weeds by 01 December 2016.

The company also needs to submit a report with prescribed reclamation scenarios, as well as an environmental monitoring report for the horizontal directional drill river crossings.

TransCanada will also have to present a report to the NEB regarding the status of the project’s construction until the due date, the landowner consultation tracking table and an annual report in regards to the project status.