Canada’s National Energy Board has begun the public comment period on the environmental aspects of an application by Westcoast Energy Inc. to extend the Grizzly Raw Gas Transmission System and to construct the Weejay Lateral in British Columbia and Alberta. The comment period ends June 27.

Westcoast applied to construct approximately 67 miles of 16-inch pipeline, which would extend the Grizzly Raw Gas Transmission System from a point in northeast British Columbia, approximately 19 miles southeast of Tumbler Ridge to a proposed receipt point in Alberta about 68 miles southwest of Grande Prairie. Westcoast also proposes to construct about four miles of 10-inch pipeline, known as the Weejay Lateral, from a well site in British Columbia to a tie-in point on the proposed Grizzly Extension Pipeline.

Westcoast said the proposed facilities would permit it to connect additional gas reserves in the Ojay/Weejay area of British Columbia and the Narraway area of Alberta. The estimated cost of the proposed facilities is $C64.5 million, with a proposed in-service date of December 1.

As part of its application, Westcoast has prepared an environmental assessment document, but to satisfy the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the NEB determined that a comprehensive study must also be conducted for the project. NEB and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency have prepared a scoping document for the environmental assessment.

For information on where to view the documents or to make comments about the proposal, contact NEB’s Communications Officer Denis Tremblay at (401) 299-2717.

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