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Thunder Bay – ENVIRONMENT – The Common Voice Northwest Energy East Task Force is looking for public input into what a significant water crossing looks like along TransCanada Pipeline’s route for their Energy East conversion project.
Common Voice Northwest has received intervenor funding from the National Energy Board to develop a Northwestern Ontario definition of a ‘significant water crossing’.”
TransCanada Pipelines has promised to provide enhanced protection to those areas where it crosses a significant water crossing and the Task Force wants the public to help define what those crossings as well as sensitive areas look like.
Tanice Marcella, the Chair of the Energy East Task Force announced that public meetings will be held in 12 different communities along or near the line from January 16 to 27. “In addition to the public meetings, our consultants, KBM Resources Group, will be meeting with interested officials from individual Municipalities and First Nations along with various Provincial Ministry representatives with knowledge of the ecology, wildlife, fisheries resources, potable water sourcing along the line” said Marcella.
“We will need to rely on the public and officials, particularly those who use the land and understand its true nature, to inform us as to the elements in their area that will need to be protected in the event of a pipeline spill, should the NEB approve the conversion” she said.
KBM Resources Group will be gathering the information, developing a Northwestern Ontario definition of a significant water crossing and then reporting back to the participants prior to its finalization. They will also identify all significant areas where the NEB should require enhanced treatment. The final results will be presented to the National Energy Board during its hearings in Thunder Bay and Kenora.
Further information can be found at www.kbmrg.com/energyeast.
The following are the meeting dates and locations:
LOCATION | Date & time | Meeting VENUE | ADDRESS |
Nipigon | Mon Jan 16, 5-7 pm | Nipigon Community Centre | 138 Wadsworth Drive |
Red Rock | Tues Jan 17, 5-7 pm | Red Rock Community Centre | 39 Brompton Road |
Shuniah | Tues Jan 17, 5-7 pm | Macgregor Rec Centre | 800 Lakeshore Drive |
Thunder Bay | Thu Jan 19, 5-7 pm | Oliver Road Community Centre | 563 Oliver Road |
Lappe Area | Sat, Jan 21, 9-11 am | Gorham and Ware School | 2032 Kam Current Road |
Hearst | Mon, Jan 23, 4:30-6:30 pm | Two Ice Tournament Hall | 925, rue Alexandra Street |
Kenora | Mon Jan 23, 4:30-6:30 pm | Kenora Recreation Centre | 18 Mike Richards Way |
Greenstone | Tues Jan 24, 6:30-8:30 pm | Geraldton Community Centre lobby | 200 Wardrope Avenue |
Dryden | Tues Jan 24, 4.30-6.30 pm | Holiday Inn Express | 585 Government Street |
Sioux Lookout | Wed Jan 25, 11.30am-1.30 pm | Sioux Lookout Library | 21 5th Avenue |
Upsala | Thurs Jan 26, 4:30-6:30 pm | Upsala Recreation and Community Sports Centre | 4185 Hwy 17 |
Ignace | Fri Jan 27, 11:30-1:30 pm | Ignace Municipal Board Room | 34 Highway 17 West |