NEB denies City of Burnaby request to rescind authorizations for ongoing work at Trans Mountain’s Burnaby Terminal

News Release
For Immediate Release

January 17, 2019 – Calgary – National Energy Board

The NEB today rejected a request by the City of Burnaby to rescind two Orders that authorize Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC to undertake pipeline relocations and decommissioning works at its Burnaby Terminal. The decision enables the company to continue its ongoing work to modify existing piping and related infrastructure within the facility.

The City of Burnaby requested that the NEB rescind the Orders after the Federal Court of Appeal judgement of August 30th, 2018 quashed Federal Government approval for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. At the time, the City of Burnaby argued that the works authorized in the two Orders were primarily to allow for construction of infrastructure related to the Expansion Project.

In its decision, the NEB found that the piping modifications at the Burnaby Terminal are not associated with the Expansion Project and that the relocation and decommissioning Orders appropriately allow Trans Mountain to optimize the site in preparation to offer new services to shippers. The NEB also permitted the company to continue tree clearing as part of the approved works.

The NEB concluded that replacement of the original piping with new piping designed to allow the passage of in-line inspection tools will improve the integrity of the Burnaby Terminal.

The NEB provides regulatory oversight on all aspects of the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline system and associated facilities. The NEB’s reconsideration hearing of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project is ongoing, independent of this request by Burnaby to rescind the two orders. For more information, please go to the NEB website

Quick Facts:

  • The work at issue in these Orders includes installation of about 1.6 km of new piping and decommissioning of about 1.3 km of piping, independent of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, within the Burnaby Terminal property.
  • As a result of these Orders, Trans Mountain is authorized to do some tree cutting on its property for the relocation work, widening of an access road and installation of a security fence.
  • The City of Burnaby filed its initial notice of motion to rescind the two Orders to the NEB on October 2, 2018.

Associated Links:

  • NEB decision letter regarding City of Burnaby’s motion to rescind Orders [Filing A97425]
  • NEB letter regarding Trans Mountain’s tree clearing relief request [Filing A97426]

The National Energy Board is an independent federal regulator of several parts of Canada’s energy industry. It regulates pipelines, energy development and trade in the public interest with safety as its primary concern. For more information on the NEB and its mandate,please visit the National Energy Board website.

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Contacts

James Stevenson
Communications Officer
Canada Energy Regulator
Email: james.stevenson@cer-rec.gc.ca
Cell: 403-613-6126
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265
Facsimile: 403-292-5503
Facsimile (toll free): 1-877-288-8803

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