The Globe and Mail reports in its Tuesday edition that following a barrage of criticism
from municipal officials
across Canada, National
Energy Board head Peter Watson has decided to
review how much pipeline emergency
response information can
be withheld from the public by
energy companies.
The Globe's Mark Hume writes that mayors are concerned about the "lack of transparency
regarding emergency management
information from pipeline
companies the NEB regulates."
Mr. Watson says he is not "happy with the amount of
emergency response information
that pipeline companies or the
NEB has been sharing with the
public." The NEB will be accepting
public comment until June
25. Then the agency "will respond
in [a] meaningful and
measured way," to the concerns
expressed.
Pipeline companies have been
withholding details on their
emergency response plans, citing
commercial and security reasons.
But critics, especially in
British Columbia where Enbridge's
Northern Gateway and Kinder
Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline
proposals are under scrutiny,
say the public needs to know
what the risks are and how pipeline
companies plan to respond
to accidents.
Mr. Watson hinted he shares those concerns.
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