NEB failing to oversee existing pipelines: Environment Watchdog

OTTAWA, O.N. — The National Energy Board is the target of another critical monitoring report — this one from the federal environment commissioner, Julie Gelfand.

In the report, Gelfand says the NEB isn’t doing a good enough job monitoring 73,000 kilometres of existing oil and gas pipeline in the country and a former BC Hydro CEO — who dropped out as an intervener at the NEB in 2014 — says the problem goes, to how the board is set up.

Marc Elieson says the Trudeau government should fulfill its’ promise for an overhaul of the process, including adding members from outside the energy industry.

However, B.C.’s Natural Gas Development Minister says he’s not terribly worried about the audit, and Rich Coleman adds he’s confident the end result will mean improving pipeline safety.

As for B.C., Coleman argues, it has an excellent pipeline safety record, and he adds the NEB isn’t responsible for the bulk of province’s network anyway — which is mainly used to move natural gas.