The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted finalenvironmental approval to the U.S. portion of Vector Pipeline,moving it within one step of receiving certification. TheCommission’s action comes in the wake of the National EnergyBoard’s final approval of the Canadian leg of the project.

The FERC’s final environmental impact statement (FEIS) concludedthat the construction and operation of the Vector pipeline wouldhave “limited environmental impact” if appropriate environmentalmeasures were put in effect.

“The FEIS is significant” said Vector Vice President JuriOtsason, “because it is the last step necessary before receiving afinal certificate…” The company expects the project to wincertification at FERC sometime in the second quarter.

The 343-mile Vector line will transport 1 Bcf/d of westernCanadian and U.S.-sourced natural gas from the Chicago hub, whereit will interconnect with Northern Border Pipeline’s extension andthe Alliance Pipeline (when completed in late 2000), to growingmarkets in eastern Canada and the U.S. Midwest and Northeast.Vector plans to begin construction of the pipeline, includingcritical river crossings, later this year, and be in service byOct. 1, 2000.

Vector is the only pipeline seeking to transport gas from theMidwest to the East Coast that has made it this far along thecertification process at the Commission.

©Copyright 1999 Intelligence Press Inc. All rights reserved. Thepreceding news report may not be republished or redistributed, inwhole or in part, in any form, without prior written consent ofIntelligence Press, Inc.