HALIFAX and SAINT JOHN, NB, April 12 /CNW/ - (EMA-TSX): The National Energy Board (NEB) has issued its Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report) on the proposed Brunswick Pipeline project. The main finding of the EA Report is that the project is not likely to result in significant adverse environmental effects, provided Brunswick Pipeline meets all of its environmental commitments, and all of the NEB's recommendations are implemented. Brunswick Pipeline is being developed by Emera Inc. (TSX:EMA).
"This is an important step in the regulatory approval process," said Nancy McLeod, Manager, Community Relations for Brunswick Pipeline. "We appreciate the NEB's significant effort to thoroughly consider the many views expressed during the regulatory process."
The regulatory process will now see the Federal government prepare a response to the EA Report, which will require Cabinet approval. The EA Report, combined with the government response, will be considered by the NEB as it makes its regulatory decision under the National Energy Board Act to either approve or deny Brunswick Pipeline's application. The regulatory process is expected to be complete by mid year. Should the NEB approve the application, the pipeline is expected to be in service by the end of 2008.
Brunswick Pipeline will deliver natural gas from the planned Canaport(TM) Liquefied Natural Gas ("LNG") receiving and re-gasification terminal near Saint John, New Brunswick to markets in Canada and the US northeast. The 145 kilometer pipeline would extend through southwest New Brunswick to an interconnection with the Maritimes and Northeast Pipeline at the Canada/US border near Baileyville, Maine.
About Emera
Emera Inc. (EMA-TSX) is an energy and services company with $4.0 billion in assets. Electricity is Emera's core business. The company has two wholly-owned regulated electric utility subsidiaries, Nova Scotia Power Inc. and Bangor Hydro-Electric Company, which together serve 590,000 customers. Emera also owns 19% of St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited, which serves more than 50,000 customers on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. In addition to its electric utility investments, Emera has a joint venture interest in Bear Swamp, a 600 megawatt pumped storage hydro-electric facility in northern Massachusetts; a 12.9% interest in the Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline; and Emera Energy Services which manages energy assets on behalf of third parties and provides related services. Visit Emera on the web at www.emera.com.