Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Apr 09/04) - Public hearings on a proposed Mackenzie Valley natural gas pipeline will take place in Fort Simpson next week.

In what has been deemed a "scoping exercise," residents and organizations are invited to relate their thoughts on the project to members of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB). After collecting feedback, the board will decide by May 7 whether to refer to project to a higher level of scrutiny, namely a joint review panel consisting of federal government and aboriginal representatives.

Roland Semjanovs, communications officer for the board, said the various issues brought forward would help guide the joint review panel, which would compel the Mackenzie Valley Producers Group to address the concerns in some manner.

The National Energy Board and Land and Water Boards will also have a hand in assessing the project.

Similar MVEIRB hearings have already been held in Norman Wells and Inuvik. Attendance wasn't overwhelming, but Semjanovs said "it's all relative" in smaller communities. In addition, the board had to contend with a blizzard in Inuvik. Nonetheless, he described the two sessions as very useful as a "window into what some of the community concerns are."

Dennis Nelner, a councillor for the Liidlii Kue First Nation and the Village of Fort Simpson, said he plans to urge the board to expand its focus to include socio-economic aspects of the pipeline project, and get assurances that everyone benefits.

"There's not going to be a lot of opportunities unless there's full participation from government, industry and the private sector," Nelner said.