The Maritimes &amp Northeast Pipeline project last week crossedanother major milestone on its way toward bringing gas toNortheastern markets from Atlantic Canada for the first time inNovember 1999. FERC issued a final environmental impact statementon the 200-mile U.S. upstream portion of the system, concluding itwould have limited adverse environmental impact with therecommended mitigation.

This portion (phase II) of the project traverses southern,central and eastern Maine from Westbrook to Baileyville as well as147 miles of proposed laterals.

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection, Maine Land UseRegulation Commission and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also arereviewing the project. Public hearings on the BEP and LURCapplications are expected to be held this summer. Canada’s NationalEnergy Board approved applications from the Sable Offshore EnergyProject and the Canadian portion of the Maritimes &amp NortheastPipeline Project in December 1997. Drilling in the Sable fieldsbegan in early June.

The Maritimes &amp Northeast Pipeline partners are Duke Energy(37.5%), Westcoast Energy (37.5%) and Mobil (25%). Duke Energy,through its affiliates, is responsible for the overall developmentof the $1 billion, 800-mile Maritimes &amp Northeast Pipeline anddirectly responsible for the U.S. portion of the project. WestcoastEnergy Inc., a major energy company located in Vancouver, BritishColumbia, is responsible for the development of the Canadianpipeline portion of the project.

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