Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Wednesday, July 11, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - It was expected the National Energy Board (NEB) would have its decision on the Mackenzie Gas Project ready for federal cabinet by year's end.

But for the Joint Review Panel (JRP), whose findings must be considered by the NEB, there appears no end in sight for its hearings that this time last year had already cost $10 million.

The Sierra Club and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) filed motions June 6 requesting the JRP "commission an independent scenario-based cumulative effects assessment" based on the Greig and Duinker report the JRP commissioned and received in March. Until this occurs, the WWF and Sierra Club want to halt hearings on this topic slated for Inuvik.

Brian Chambers, director of the Northern Gas Project Secretariat, information clearing house for the mammoth hearing process, told Yellowknifer the JRP is expected to rule on the motion by the end of July.

If it denies the environmental groups' motion, "It's possible to schedule the remainder of the hearings, concluding this fall," he said.

If the motion is approved, Chambers did not know when the hearings would finish but estimated conducting a study and report of such magnitude would take no less than three months.

Both the federal and territorial governments have urged the JRP not sanction an independent cumulative effects assessment in letters written June 21.

"The JRP has the jurisdiction and competence to make its own evaluation of the cumulative impacts of the project," wrote Sheldon Toner, legal counsel for the GNWT. "The JRP need not commission an independent assessment to fulfill its mandate."

The letter from Indian and Northern Affairs' Pipeline Readiness Office takes a similar line, citing that the "cumulative effects" hearing, currently in limbo over the motion, is what will inform the panel whether further information is be required. It also says that "management of cumulative effects of future induced development is a government responsibility."

Pete Ewins of WWF said the motion is requesting the JRP follow recommendations from a report (Greig and Duinker) it commissioned.

"This project will lead to further industrial development and that's a good thing economically but it means mitigating the negative impacts should hinge on a good plan," Ewins said. "If you just go from one plan to another, experience shows environmental conditions have been degraded."

Ewins said the WWF is not trying to scuttle the project.

"The WWF has never been opposed to the project... our hopes are that if it's approved the conditions attached will ensure world class standards for environmental protection," he said.

Calls to Sierra Club Executive director Stephen Hazell and its Edmonton representative Meredith James were not returned as of press time.

The last scheduled JRP hearing is July 9 to 11 in Inuvik and four remain unscheduled, awaiting the JRP decision.