Today in Saint John the National Energy Board panel heard from several First Nations groups. Many of the groups told the panel that unless their community needs are met, they will not consent to the project.
Concerns raised today include:
The impact of the project on First Nations rights, particularly:
- The impact of the pipeline on wildlife, most notably salmon;
- The impact of the pipeline on forests in New Brunswick, where many First Nation groups gather resources from;
- The impact on rivers, lakes, and the Bay of Fundy;
- Impacts of the tank and marine terminal on the atmospheric environment;
- Effects to private property due to construction of the pipeline;
- The psychosocial impacts of those affected (ie. anxiety, fear, feelings of powerlessness)
The NEB has organized a series of panel sessions taking place from August to December 2016, beginning with the session in Saint John. At these sessions, intervenors are limited to short presentations and have been asked to present high level questions they want answered and issues they want considered. Proponent representatives (spokespeople from Transcanada and Irving Oil) may respond. Intervenors and other participants may also submit further questions in writing.
A total of 337 applicants have been granted intervenor status, including the Conservation Council of New Brunswick. Our Fundy Baykeeper, Matt Abbott, spoke as an intervenor on Tuesday. To read about the concerns we raised, see here. If you missed our updates from Day #1 and Day #2, you can read them here.
Read a summary of the NEB panel sessions in Saint John here:
NEB information sessions in Saint John:
- Day #1 at Energy East NEB sessions in Saint John: risks of major spills dominate discussion
- Day #2 of NEB panel sessions in Saint John: what does this mean for N.B.?
- Day #3 at Energy East NEB sessions in Saint John: NEB gets an earful from First Nations groups
NEB information sessions in Fredericton: