Environmental assessment process for Canada's NWT pipeline proposals under way

May 24, 2001
Boards and agencies regulating developments in Canada's Northwest Territories have announced plans for a draft framework for a single environmental process for pipelines in Canada's Arctic. The draft framework should streamline the review of any pipeline applications to move natural gas from the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea offshore to southern markets.


By an OGJ Online Correspondent

CALGARY, May 24 -- Boards and agencies regulating developments in Canada's Northwest Territories have announced plans for a draft framework for a single environmental process for pipelines in Canada's Arctic.

The draft framework should streamline the review of any pipeline applications to move natural gas from the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea offshore to southern markets. Producer groups are studying the feasibility of a pipeline from the Mackenzie Delta.

The agencies involved also said a draft framework will consider integration of the various regulatory requirements applicable to a project and will support and respect the spirit and intent of land claims agreements in the north.

The parties involved said they are optimistic a draft framework will be developed by the end of summer. It will be made available for comment and will be subject to ratification by the relevant authorities.

Parties involved in working toward an agreement include the National Energy Board, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, the Environmental Impact Screening Committee, the Environmental Impact Review Board for the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, the federal Department of Indian Affairs, the Inuvialuit Land Administration, the Inuvialuit Game Council, the Sahtu Land and Water Board, the Gwich�in Land and Water Board, and the NWT government.