The cross examination phase of the National Energy Board hearings into the proposed Northern Gateway project will now carry on until mid-May.
The Joint Review Panel (JRP) examining the environmental assessment into the $6.5 billion plan released an updated schedule Thursday, which adds significantly more time to the hearings in Prince Rupert.
Originally, the JRP had set aside 16 days for Prince Rupert hearings, which will deal with issues ranging from the possible impact of marine spills to the consultation process used by Enbridge to engage with First Nations groups along the proposed route. The new schedule has eight days in December and 10 additional weeks of hearings between February and May. If all those days are needed, the cross-examination won't be completed until May 17.
The hearings in Prince George have already gone into overtime due to the number of interveners signed up to ask questions and the lengthy back-and-forth on some topics. The JRP will return to Prince George next week and hopes to conclude the local phase of the hearings by the end of the month.
The first set of Prince Rupert hearings are slated for Dec. 10-18, but after that the JRP will shift focus early in the new year with oral statements in Victoria (Jan. 4-11); Vancouver (Jan 14-18 and Jan. 30-Feb. 1) and Kelowna (Jan. 28), before returning to Prince Rupert for more cross examination in February.
After all the parties have asked their questions, the JRP will start to hear final arguments between May 19 and June 19. Enbridge and interveners will have the option to file their final arguments in writing or orally as they try to persuade the three-member panel on the reasons the twin oil and condensate pipelines should either be built or blocked.
It has yet to be determined where the final arguments will be held.
The JRP also announced it will release its final report on the pipeline the week of Dec. 29, 2013. That leaves a small window of possible days as federal legislation requires the panel to have everything wrapped up by the end of 2013.
In its final report, the JRP will make a recommendation to the federal cabinet , which will then decide if a certificate should be issued for the project.
