The Maritimes & 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 includes traversessouthern, central and eastern Maine from Westbrook to Baileyvilleas well as 147 miles of proposed laterals.

The Maine Board of Environmental Protection (BEP), Maine LandUse Regulation Commission (LURC) and the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers also are reviewing the project. Public hearings on theBEP and LURC applications are expected to be held this summer.Canada’s National Energy Board approved applications from the SableOffshore Energy Project and the Canadian portion of the Maritimes& Northeast Pipeline Project in December 1997. Drilling in theSable fields began in early June.

The Maritimes & 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 & Northeast Pipeline anddirectly responsible for the U.S. portion of the project. WestcoastEnergy Inc. is responsible for the development of the Canadianpipeline portion of the project.

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