05/21
For immediate release
18 October 2005

NEB to hold a Pre-hearing Planning Conference regarding the Mackenzie Gas Project

CALGARY - The National Energy Board (NEB) has announced that it will hold a Pre-hearing Planning Conference (Conference) in the Northwest Territories during the weeks of 5 and 12 December 2005. The purpose of the Conference will be to:

• provide information on the NEB's role throughout the lifecycle of a pipeline and on the NEB hearing process for the MGP project; and
• hear parties' views on shaping certain parts of the NEB hearing process to meet the needs of the participants.

Persons can participate in the Conference by sending in written comments, speaking with NEB staff or attending one of the following four sessions: Inuvik (5 December), Yellowknife (6 and 7 December), Fort Good Hope (12 December), and Fort Simpson (13 December).

On 15 September 2005, Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited (Imperial) informed the NEB that the proponents of the Mackenzie Gas Project were not prepared to proceed to public hearing on their applications but that they were still committed to the project and would inform the NEB in November of their willingness to proceed. The NEB previously indicated that it would require a lead time of approximately two months to make the hearing arrangements. To avoid potential delays in making those arrangements, the NEB has decided to announce the Conference in advance of Imperial's advice to the NEB in November. If Imperial does not advise the NEB that it is ready to proceed to the public hearing prior to 18 November 2005, the Conference will be postponed.

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates several aspects of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection and economic efficiency in the Canadian public interest within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

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For further information:

Denis Tremblay
Communications Officer
Telephone: 403-299-2717
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Telecopier: 403-292-5503
Telecopier (toll free): 1-877-288-8803