Stop Energy East (North Bay)
is a collaborative of groups and individuals in North Bay and area concerned about TransCanada's proposal to convert its natural gas pipeline to carry diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands to Canada's east coast, through northern Ontario and the Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake watersheds. Subscribe to electronic newsletter |
Northwatch is a regional coalition of environmental, social justice and community organizations in northeastern Ontario. Founded in 1988, Northwatch provides a regional voice on environmental and natural resource concerns which are of regional concern, including mining, forestry and energy projects. Subscribe to electronic newsletter
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November 2014
NORTHERN ONTARIO GROUPS TO INTERVENE AT NEB
At Northwatch's regional meeting in November a workplan was developed for intervening in the NEB review of TransCanada's Energy East plan. Northwatch will work with other organizations in northeastern Ontario, focussing on on-the-ground impacts of the project, including on other land uses and areas of ecological significance. Stop Energy East (North Bay) and Nipissing Environmental Watch are members of the collaborative, which includes partner organizations Northwatch, Ontario Nature, Temiskaming Environmental Action Committee, Friends of Temagami and the Nipissing-Timiskaming-Cochrane Landowners Alliance.
NORTHERN ONTARIO GROUPS TO INTERVENE AT NEB
At Northwatch's regional meeting in November a workplan was developed for intervening in the NEB review of TransCanada's Energy East plan. Northwatch will work with other organizations in northeastern Ontario, focussing on on-the-ground impacts of the project, including on other land uses and areas of ecological significance. Stop Energy East (North Bay) and Nipissing Environmental Watch are members of the collaborative, which includes partner organizations Northwatch, Ontario Nature, Temiskaming Environmental Action Committee, Friends of Temagami and the Nipissing-Timiskaming-Cochrane Landowners Alliance.
June 2014
Northwatch Hosts Community Roundtables on Energy East Pipeline Project
North Bay – A regional coalition of environmental and community groups in northeastern Ontario will be joining with local members on Saturday to host a series of roundtable discussions about potential environmental impacts in Temiskaming District of the Energy East pipeline conversation project.
TransCanada Pipeline has announced intentions to convert their natural gas pipeline through northern Ontario to move crude oil and/or diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands in western Canada to facilities in eastern Canada. Pipeline ruptures would have long-lasting environmental impacts and extremely high clean-up costs and put Temiskaming at risk.
The community roundtables will combine information-sharing about the project with gathering local input into regional strategies to evaluate and respond to TransCanada’s proposal, including through engagement in consultation and review processes that are underway by both the Ontario Energy Board and the National Energy Board.
Saturday’s schedule includes a roundtable at Vern Miller Memorial Community Centre in Matheson at 10 am, Cousins Restaurant in Englehart at 1 pm, Chat Noir Books in New Liskeard at 4 pm and the Marten River Fire Hall at 7 pm.
June 2014
TransCanada Pipeline has announced intentions to convert their natural gas pipeline through northern Ontario to move crude oil and/or diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands in western Canada to facilities in eastern Canada. The pipeline conversion brings significant risks to northeastern Ontario with the high potential for pipeline ruptures. For example, according to information provided by TransCanada, there will only be shut-off valves every 30 kilometres, except around “select” locations which TransCanada deems to be environmentally significant. Spills of diluted bitumen would contaminate nearby rivers, lakes, wetlands or groundwater, with the line capable of spewing two cubic metres per second of the 1.1 million barrels that will be pushed through the pipe each day. Diluted bitumen is extremely toxic with long-lasting environmental impacts and extremely high clean-up costs, and there are no guarantees that the pipeline owner/operator will actually have sufficient funds to pay for cleanup. Conversion of the pipeline is also expected to result in higher natural gas prices and reduced access to natural gas for northern communities and customers.
May, 2014
TransCanada Line ConversionPipeline Through Northeast to carry Tar Sands Bitumen
On 4 March 2014, TransCanada filed a project description with the National Energy Board, outlining their plan to convert 3,000 km of existing natural gas pipeline and construct an additional 1,500 km of new pipeline, for the purpose of transferring 1.1 million barrels per day of bitumen from the Alberta tar sands to eastern refineries, ports and international markets.
The pipeline roughly follows Highway 11 from Kenora to North Bay, where it turns east. Threats to the land and waters of northern Ontario are significant. Conversion of a decades old natural pipeline to carry corrosive diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands development is a recipe for risk, as the experiences of Mayflower and Kalamazoo illustrate so tragically. While details on the Energy East proposal will not be available until TransCanada files their application with the National Energy Board, several issues emerged early, based on even the minimal description TransCanada was providing during their "information sessions" over the summer of 2013, such as the toxic nature of the diluted bitumen and the long distances between shut-off valves.
The National Energy Board is the federal regulator with responsibility to review the project and make recommendations to the federal cabinet, but the Ontario Minister of Energy has asked the Ontario Energy Board to consult with Ontarians and provide advice on how Ontario should respond to the project.
Northwatch Hosts Community Roundtables on Energy East Pipeline Project
North Bay – A regional coalition of environmental and community groups in northeastern Ontario will be joining with local members on Saturday to host a series of roundtable discussions about potential environmental impacts in Temiskaming District of the Energy East pipeline conversation project.
TransCanada Pipeline has announced intentions to convert their natural gas pipeline through northern Ontario to move crude oil and/or diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands in western Canada to facilities in eastern Canada. Pipeline ruptures would have long-lasting environmental impacts and extremely high clean-up costs and put Temiskaming at risk.
The community roundtables will combine information-sharing about the project with gathering local input into regional strategies to evaluate and respond to TransCanada’s proposal, including through engagement in consultation and review processes that are underway by both the Ontario Energy Board and the National Energy Board.
Saturday’s schedule includes a roundtable at Vern Miller Memorial Community Centre in Matheson at 10 am, Cousins Restaurant in Englehart at 1 pm, Chat Noir Books in New Liskeard at 4 pm and the Marten River Fire Hall at 7 pm.
June 2014
TransCanada Pipeline has announced intentions to convert their natural gas pipeline through northern Ontario to move crude oil and/or diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands in western Canada to facilities in eastern Canada. The pipeline conversion brings significant risks to northeastern Ontario with the high potential for pipeline ruptures. For example, according to information provided by TransCanada, there will only be shut-off valves every 30 kilometres, except around “select” locations which TransCanada deems to be environmentally significant. Spills of diluted bitumen would contaminate nearby rivers, lakes, wetlands or groundwater, with the line capable of spewing two cubic metres per second of the 1.1 million barrels that will be pushed through the pipe each day. Diluted bitumen is extremely toxic with long-lasting environmental impacts and extremely high clean-up costs, and there are no guarantees that the pipeline owner/operator will actually have sufficient funds to pay for cleanup. Conversion of the pipeline is also expected to result in higher natural gas prices and reduced access to natural gas for northern communities and customers.
May, 2014
TransCanada Line ConversionPipeline Through Northeast to carry Tar Sands Bitumen
On 4 March 2014, TransCanada filed a project description with the National Energy Board, outlining their plan to convert 3,000 km of existing natural gas pipeline and construct an additional 1,500 km of new pipeline, for the purpose of transferring 1.1 million barrels per day of bitumen from the Alberta tar sands to eastern refineries, ports and international markets.
The pipeline roughly follows Highway 11 from Kenora to North Bay, where it turns east. Threats to the land and waters of northern Ontario are significant. Conversion of a decades old natural pipeline to carry corrosive diluted bitumen from Alberta's tar sands development is a recipe for risk, as the experiences of Mayflower and Kalamazoo illustrate so tragically. While details on the Energy East proposal will not be available until TransCanada files their application with the National Energy Board, several issues emerged early, based on even the minimal description TransCanada was providing during their "information sessions" over the summer of 2013, such as the toxic nature of the diluted bitumen and the long distances between shut-off valves.
The National Energy Board is the federal regulator with responsibility to review the project and make recommendations to the federal cabinet, but the Ontario Minister of Energy has asked the Ontario Energy Board to consult with Ontarians and provide advice on how Ontario should respond to the project.