The National Energy Board is holding an oral hearing on the proposed Peace River Mainline Abandonment Project over the next two days in Calgary. NOVA Gas Transmission wants to remove a nine kilometre section of pipeline on Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation Reserve Land, and leave the other 257 kilometres unused.
This is the largest application to abandon a facility that the NEB has ever considered. It also includes getting rid of a decommissioned compressor station and other buildings. The section to be abandoned is about 34 kilometres west of Peace River, between Valleyview and the Manning area.
Four parties have been approved to take part in the hearing. They include representatives of the Canadian Association of Energy and Pipeline Landowner Associations, Centra Gas Manitoba, Gunn Métis Local 55 of Lac Ste. Anne, and Gregory Loewen of Valleyview.
The hearing is scheduled to run until Thursday. A live audio feed and daily transcripts will be posted online.