Canada’s NEB approves Enbridge’s pipeline replacement project

Canada’s National Energy Board (NEB) has recommended the federal Governor in Council to approve an Enbridge project with conditions to replace an aging crude export pipeline to the US.

Enbridge applied on 5 November 2014 to replace 1,067km of aging 34 inch Line 3 pipeline between Hardisty, Alberta to Gretna, Manitoba, with 1,096km of new pipeline constructed to current standards.

Following a public hearing process, the regulator concluded that the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Programme (project) is in the Canadian public interest.

The hearing process included a scientific and technical examination of all the evidence that was put before the three-member NEB panel.

NEB noted that the Enbridge project will have to replace an aging pipeline with a new pipeline constructed as per modern standards, which will be used to move oil to the US.

The regulator had imposed 89 project-specific conditions to improve public safety and environmental protection.

Enbridge proposes to operate the new pipeline at the original pipeline’s capacity of 760,000 barrels of oil per day.

The company has been directed to develop a plan for aboriginal groups to take part in monitoring the construction of the new pipeline.

The panel recommends that the additional assessment and consultation have to be carried out by the regulator on the policy and regulatory framework that guides advanced stages of a pipeline’s lifecycle.

These stages will include decommissioning and abandonment.

The NEB, the pipeline industry, as well as the aboriginal groups are also required to collaborate to create a set of principles, objectives or a framework approach in a bid to assist the development of aboriginal monitoring programmes for major pipeline projects.