A record-breaking number of 2,129 people have applied to participate in the National Energy Board hearing for Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion, many of them from Burnaby, and while the deadline has passed, the board is now considering the possibility of extending the application period.
The NOW has learned the National Energy Board is considering arguments for extending the application period to apply to participate in the hearing. The move came after Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart sent a letter to the board quoting a NOW interview with the three NEB panel members who will decide the fate of the pipeline. In a letter to the board, Stewart raised questions as to how the public can be properly informed and participate in the public process when it’s unclear which route the pipeline will take. Stewart requested an extension to the public application period until Kinder Morgan makes the final, preferred route public and his constituents have the chance to consider how they may be directly affected by the alternate route.
In a response letter dated Feb. 12, board secretary Sheri Young invited Trans Mountain to submit comments before the board decides on Stewart’s request. Trans Mountain can file comments by Feb. 14, and Stewart can reply by Feb. 19. After that, the board will consider Stewart’s request in light of the submitted comments.
As first reported in the NOW, some local residents have been informed that Kinder Morgan is now more interested in the alternate route put forward in last summer’s public consultations, contrary to information in the company’s facilities application and what’s on the Trans Mountain project website.
The NOW asked NEB spokesperson Sarah Kiley how the board can have a meaningful public consultation process when Kinder Morgan is switching the routes.
“Mr. Stewart has raised that exact point,” Kiley said. “What you can take from the letter is the board thought that was a good question and is looking for input on that question. We’ll have to take a look on the comments that are provided to us in both cases and we’ll make a decision on that.”
