NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. – West Path Delivery 2023

Project Information

NOVA Gas Transmission Limited (NGTL) has filed a Project application for the West Path Delivery 2023 (Project). The proposed Project includes the construction and operation of approximately 40.1 km of 48 inch nominal pipe size (NPS) inthree sections, including:

Description of three sections

Pipeline section	Length	Location
Western Alberta System (WAS) Mainline Loop No. 2 Turner Valley Section (Turner Valley Section)	23.7 km	Approximately 3 km northwest from the Town of Turner Valley, AB
WAS Mainline Loop No. 2 Longview Section (Longview Section)	9 km	Approximately 30 km southwest of the Town of High River, AB
WAS Mainline Loop No. 2 Lundbrek Section (Lundbreck Section)	7.4 km	Approximately 30 km northwest of the Town of Pincher Creek, Alberta

If the Project is approved and built, some temporary infrastructure, such as access roads, will be required during construction.

The Project parallels existing infrastructure (such as the existing NGTL pipeline right of way, other pipeline right of ways, powerline easements and road allowances) for approximately 75% of the route. The Project will traverse approximately 5 km of Crown land and 34 km of private freehold land. The Project will require new permanent land rights. Temporary workspace is also anticipated to be required for the Project construction.

NGTL’s current plans, if approved, are to start construction in the third quarter of 2023, with construction being completed in November 2023 and an anticipated in-service date of November 2023.

Project Map

This map provides an overview of the project.

View larger PDF version [PDF 1610 KB]

Crown Consultation

A primary forum for the CER to fulfill the Crown’s consultation obligations to Indigenous Peoples has been through its Commission’s hearing process. In addition, in its role as the federal Crown Consultation Coordinator (CCC) for this project, the CER is conducting supplemental Crown consultation activities with potentially affected Indigenous communities. Now that the Commission’s assessment is complete, the CER continues to consult Indigenous communities on potential or outstanding impacts to their Section 35 Rights to support the Governor in Council’s decision on the project. These consultations include consulting on the Commission’s recommended measures for the project, as set out in its May 24, 2022 recommendation report.

The CER notes that the Governor in Council extended the legislative time limit for its decision on the project to November 30, 2022. The CCC is using this extended time to continue to discuss any outstanding concerns with Indigenous communities to enable a decision on the project by the Governor in Council. The CCC also continues to coordinate consultation activities with other federal departments and the project proponent, as necessary.

For more information specific to the CER’s Crown consultation process on this project, please contact ConsultationWestPath2023@cer-rec.gc.ca.

General information about the CER’s approach to Crown consultation can be found on the CER Crown Consultation web page.

Key Milestones

• January 21, 2021– CER will host a workshop to collect feedback on the hearing process and draft list of issues [Filing C11064]
• January 21, 2021 – CER releases List of Participants [Filing C11063]
• December 17, 2020 – CER extends registration to participate deadline to January 6 [Filing C10574]
• November 30, 2020 – CER extends registration to participate deadline to December 30 [Filing C10030]
• November 25 – December 30, 2020 – Register to participate in the NGTL West Path 2023 hearing
• November 25, 2020 – CER releases Notice of Hearing for NGTL West Path 2023 [Filing C09884]
• October 22, 2020 – NGTL files Project Application for NGTL West Path Delivery 2023 [Filing C09063]
• August 5, 2020 – CER Letter to Indigenous communities [Filing C07684]
• May 29, 2020 – NGTL files Project Notification for NGTL West Path Delivery 2023 Project [Filing C06556]

Resources

If you would like to learn more about the CER, please visit the following links:

Enforcing the Rules

Protecting the Environment

Responding to Emergencies

Living and Working Near Pipelines

Participant Funding

Participant funding is available to facilitate the participation in this public hearing.

Refer to the Participant Funding Program page for information on deadlines, eligibility, how to apply for funding and how to submit claims.

Contacts

For Early Engagement / Consultation inquiries, please contact:

Process Advisor Team
Canada Energy Regulator
Email: NGTLWestPath.ProcessHelp@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803

Crown Consultation
Email: ConsultationWestPath2023@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ruth Anne Beck
Communications Officer
Canada Energy Regulator
Email: ruthanne.beck@cer-rec.gc.ca
Telephone: 403-483-1395
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-299-3302
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803