NEB, however, listed 48 conditions that have to be met by TransCanada’s wholly-owned subsidiary NGTL for the project to go ahead. The conditions include protection and restoration of caribou habitat
The project is planned to run through three boreal woodland caribou ranges, which are listed as threatened on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act.
The report with the recommendation has been submitted to the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, as required by federal law for approval.
NGTL’s project involves construction of about five pipeline section loops totaling 230km and two compressor station unit additions in northern Alberta.
Estimated to generate C$800m ($611m) in labor income during construction phase, the project is also expected to generate C$1.2bn ($917m) in gross domestic product in Canada.
The 23,500km NGTL pipeline system gathers natural gas for use in Alberta, as well as to deliver it to provincial border points for export to North American markets.
In November 2015, NGTL has signed a deal to expand its gas transportation network to transport approximately 2.7 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas.
