Inuvik (Mar 17/06) - The Joint Review Panel has returned to Inuvik this week to hear submissions and questioning regarding the pipeline project's routing and design.

On Monday, Environment Canada questioned lead project proponent Imperial Oil on the environmental impacts of the Niglintgak field's lateral pipe connecting its Taglu field - located inside the Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary - which will cross through the protected area.

"Do you believe the impacts would be diminished if the lateral line (connecting Niglintgak with Taglu field) was above ground?" asked Chuck Brumwell of Environment Canada.

Imperial Oil's Rick Lucas Savage said the gas temperature of -1C or lower necessary for transportation as the primary reason for burying the line.

"Generally in Canada, if you have a choice, you go with the buried pipeline option."

The issue of expanded exploration within the sanctuary with respect to increased development was also broached by Brumwell.

At present, an application to appropriate 65 hectares inside the sanctuary to construct Taglu and the connection line has been made to federal regulators.

With respect to increased development, Imperial Oil says the demand on the proposed line will be 75 million cubic feet per day, "roughly 35 to 40 per cent of the pipe's capacity."

As is customary at these hearings, a booklet outlining proponent's drawings and summaries of the project were available to those who attended.

According to the literature, the project will entail a Mackenzie Gathering System for gas from three production fields that include 190km of pipelines, a gas processing facility north of Inuvik and 457km worth of liquid natural gas pipeline connecting to an existing line in Norman Wells.

The Mackenzie Pipeline itself will be 1,194 km and will require three compressor stations and a heater station.

Infrastructure to support construction include 30 "infrastructure sites," 74 "borrow sites" such as gravel pits, 177 water sources and 800km of road.

As well, the pipeline has been designed for conditions expected along the route, these being 470km of continuous permafrost, 930km of discontinuous permafrost, 643 watercourse crossings and 829 slopes.

As the pipeline will be buried, there are no plans to remove it after the gas from wells connected to the planned infrastructure have been exhausted.

The Inuvik hearings continue through Friday.