TransCanada Pipelines wants to build a 2,960 km long pipeline that would take crude oil from Alberta — mostly from the tar sands – to refineries in the U.S. Midwest. TransCanada has called this US$2.1–billion plan its Keystone Pipeline Project. Today, the United States government gives formal “notice of intent” that it will prepare an environmental impact statement for this project.
The U.S. notice says: “Appropriate regulatory authorities in Canada will conduct an independent environmental review process for the Canadian facilities”.
According to TransCanada, a “Preliminary Information Package” has been filed with the National Energy Board “to initiate and facilitate the environmental assessment review process for the Canadian portion of the Keystone Oil Pipeline under the requirements of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Keystone expects to file a Section 52 application with the NEB for a certificate of public convenience and necessity and other related approvals late in 2006, once we’ve completed supporting environmental impact assessments over the course of the summer.”
Environment Canada has indicated that it will not require an environmental assessment of the project under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Documents filed by TransCanada indicate that no assessment is necessary because the Canadian portion of this pipeline follows existing pipeline rights-of-way, that have already undergone such assessments.