Inuvik (Jan 12/07) - Only one person took advantage of a public hearing session held by the Joint Review Panel earlier this week.

The panel started their battery of hearings in Inuvik on the proposed Mackenzie Valley pipeline with a meeting this past Monday night.

When panel chair Robert Hornal asked the room if anyone had any concerns, the small audience went silent.

It was only after a short recess that a concern was brought forward to the presenters' table.

Business owner Hans Lennie asked the panel of proponents about aboriginal training for pipeline jobs.

"Has any training started and when will it be available?" asked Lennie.

Imperial Oil frontman Randy Ottenbreit told Lennie that some training had already begun.

"We are training people for the construction phase of the pipeline," said Ottenbreit.

"We will focus on operations training at a later date."

Pipeline proponents made a presentation to outline to outline the work already done for the project.

The slides included concerns that have been brought forward by the public in prior meetings over the last four years.

The presentation also explained how the project has changed as a result of community consultations.

Ottenbreit explained the measures being taken by the proponents to ensure that the project is constructed responsibly.

"Most environmental effects will occur during construction, But it will be managed so the disruption is localized and short term." said Ottenbreit.

Ottenbreit also said hunters may be affected by the construction of the massive pipeline.

"The people's ability to harvest may be disrupted in the short term," he said.

Annette Bourgeois-Bent, manager of communications for the Northern Gas Project Secretariat, also attended the public hearings.

"These community hearings are important to the process," she said.

Bourgeois-Bent said the difference between public and general hearings is registration.

"For these public hearings, you don't need to register ahead of time to have your question heard," she said.