Thousands to speak at pipeline hearings

More than 4,000 people and groups have registered to speak at upcoming regulatory hearings over Enbridge Inc.’s proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project. Annie Roy, spokeswoman for the hearing told the Calgary Herald that the National Energy Board Joint Review Panel, which will recommend a final opinion on Northern Gateway to the federal cabinet, is committed to hearing from each person. Presenters have a maximum of 10 minutes to speak. The $5.5 billion 1,200-kilometre twin oil pipeline would ship 525,000 barrels per day of crude oil from a site near Edmonton to Kitimat on British Columbia’s West Coast and return condensate to Alberta. Community hearings are to start in January.