PROPOSED NATURAL GAS PIPELINE RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT GO-AHEAD
Ottawa - October 5, 2000 - Canada's Environment
Minister David Anderson today announced his approval of the environmental
assessment of the Swan Valley Gasification Project, a proposed natural
gas pipeline in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The Minister concluded that
further environmental assessment by a review panel or mediator was not
necessary and referred the project back to the responsible authorities
for the next appropriate steps. The responsible authorities for the
project are the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration within Agriculture
and Agri-Food Canada, Western Economic Diversification, Fisheries and
Oceans Canada-Canadian Coast Guard, and the National Energy Board.
The pipeline will extend from an existing facility in
Saskatchewan to a distribution network in the Swan River Valley region
of Manitoba, between Benito and Minitonas. The transmission pipeline
will originate near Norquay, Saskatchewan and travel in an easterly
direction for approximately 37 km to a proposed high pressure turbine
metre station located inside the Manitoba border. Originating from the
same turbine station, the proposed distribution pipeline will then extend
in a north-easterly direction for approximately 58 km to an area south
of Swan River, Manitoba.
Following a review of public comments and the environmental
assessment report, Minister Anderson concluded that, with the implementation
of all mitigation measures and a follow-up program, the project is unlikely
to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
Potential effects of the project are primarily associated
with the construction of the pipeline. Early project planning and field
programs allowed for sound mitigation strategies, including conscientious
pipeline route selection, careful project scheduling, and proactive
reclamation programs.
The Swan Valley Gasification Project was subject to an
environmental assessment process known as a comprehensive study. Projects
subject to comprehensive study are set out in regulations under the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Projects like this one are complex
and have the potential to cause adverse environmental effects, and therefore,
require in-depth study.
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The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is a federal
agency reporting to the Minister of the Environment. Environmental assessment
is a planning tool used to identify the possible adverse effects of
development projects on the environment.
For more information, please contact:
Johanne Beaulieu
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of the Environment
Tel.: (819) 953-2101
William McCullough
Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel: (819) 997-3071
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