.
Search
Email this articleE-mail this story  Discuss this articleWrite letter to editor  Discuss this articleOrder a classified ad
Input for output

Pipeline group tours the Delta

Terry Halifax
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Feb 21/03) - Ingamo Hall was packed last Wednesday night for a community consultation meeting with the producers from the Mackenzie Gas Project.

Representatives from ConocoPhillips, Imperial Oil and Shell were on hand to explain the gathering systems that will be built at Taglu, Niglingtak and Parsons Lake discoveries.

Jaqueline McArthur, community and aboriginal relations co-ordinator for ConocoPhillips, said the meetings in Inuvik, Tuktoyaktuk, Fort McPherson and Tsiigehtchic went very well, with good participation coming from all the communities.

"We really wanted some meaningful participation and we wanted to present the project more than just having talking heads up there," McArthur said.

"What we wanted was a lot of community input on their preferences, but really, how do they use the land there," McArthur said.

"We wanted to learn their personal experiences from the area."

The gas from the three sites will be piped to a central line and pushed South to Inuvik to a compression facility before heading down the valley.

ConocoPhillips engineer Marie Mislan said through previous consultations, they would prefer to keep the pipeline all underground, at Parson's Lake, but because of terrain parts of the line may have to be built above ground.

"We heard you and we are looking at whether or not we can bury it," Mislan said, adding that there is hilly terrain and muskeg the pipe would have to cross.

"These are decisions that we are looking to make within the next two months," she said.

"You know the land, so I'd like to get some input from you."

She explained there are five factors influencing how the gathering system will be built: cost, technical, safety, environment and community input.

The producers will be back in the Delta in early March for meetings in Paulatuk, Holman and Sachs Harbour as well as participating in career day at local schools.