TransCanada PipeLines Ltd. has asked the National Energy Board of Canada to suspend for 30 days action on applications for the Energy East and Eastern Mainline pipeline projects while it studies an expansion environmental review (OGJ Online, Jan. 30, 2017).
The NEB on Aug. 23 announced it will “consider upstream and downstream greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in determining whether these projects are in the public interest.”
The agency said it “also wants to examine the potential market impacts of GHGs reduction targets embedded in laws and policies on the economic viability of the projects.”
The Energy East project combines construction and conversion of existing pipelines to create a 4,500-km system able to carry 1.1 million b/d of crude from Hardisty, Alta., to refineries and terminals in eastern Canada.
Eastern Mainline would involve 279 km of new natural gas pipeline between Markham, and Brouseville, Ont.