Yellowknife (July 24/06) -Pipeline hearings arrived in Yellowknife today, bringing with them lawyers, environmentalists, bureaucrats, political leaders and corporate bigwigs eager to defend, clarify questions and challenge the construction of a 1,200 km gas pipeline from the Beaufort Sea to Alberta's border.

Until Aug. 4, the National Energy Board (NEB) will host proceedings in the Katimavik Room at the Explorer Hotel.

On its agenda will be tolls and tariffs and, for the first time since pipeline hearings began in Inuvik Jan. 25, the economic feasibility of the project.

The energy board hearings deal primarily with engineering, logistical and economic issues of the pipeline's construction.

On Aug. 15, the Joint Review Panel will visit Yellowknife for three days of hearings to discuss the project's socio-economic impacts.