As part of the Canada Energy Regulatory (CER; Formerly National Energy Board (NEB)) regulatory process, Trans Mountain is required to submit a Plan, Profile and Book of Reference (PPBoR). The PPBoR contains:
- detailed maps of the lands required for the Project
- descriptions of the portion of land proposed to be used by the Project in each parcel of land to be crossed
- the numbers of the parcels
- the area, length and width of the portion of each parcel used
- the names of the owners and occupiers
Trans Mountain will file the detailed route in segments beginning in July 2019. These segments, and their filing dates, are described in more detail below.
When the PPBoR is filed, notices are issued to affected landowners which contain routing information and maps. Affected landowners have the opportunity to comment on, and if they wish, oppose the proposed detailed route and the timing and methods of construction by filing a statement of opposition with the CER. The timelines for filing a statement of opposition are set out in the CER Act and are explained in Chapter 4 of the NEB Landowner Guide:
"The NEB Act sets out how much time you have to file your written statement of opposition. A person whose lands are crossed by the pipeline has 30 days from the date they are served notice of the proposed detailed route. A person who anticipates their lands may be adversely affected by the proposed detailed route of the pipeline has 30 days from the date of the last notice’s publication.”
The CER will consider all comments and objections that meet the requirements of the CER Act and may hold a public hearing to gather further information. In light of the previous detailed route processes that were conducted for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project in 2017 and 2018, the CER will only accept statements of opposition that raise concerns regarding a material change in circumstances from the original detailed route processes. And, even if a statement of opposition was filed in a previous detailed route process, a new statement of opposition must be filed.
Read more about the CER's process for considering statements of opposition to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
If a hearing is held, the CER will forward a copy of its decision and reasons to the Federal Minister and each person who made representations to the CER at the hearing either approving or declining the PPBoR for the particular section. We can only start construction of a particular segment after the CER approves the PPBoR for that segment and we acquire the associated land rights. A full explanation of the detailed route process is contained within the NEB Landowner Guide.
For the answers to frequently asked questions about the routing process click here.
*As of August 28, 2019 the National Energy Board is now the Canada Energy Regulator. Every decision or order made by the National Energy Board is considered to have been made under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act and may be enforced as such. Every certificate, licence or permit issued by the National Energy Board is considered to have been issued under the Canadian Energy Regulator Act.
