National Energy Board to hear final argument on Mackenzie Gas Project

CALGARY, April 8 /CNW/ - Participants in the Mackenzie Gas Project hearing will have their chance to persuade the National Energy Board (NEB) to approve or deny the project when final argument begins on 12 April 2010 in Yellowknife, NT.

Final argument on the project, which would deliver natural gas from the Mackenzie Delta to northern Alberta, will begin at the Explorer Hotel on Monday, 12 April at 1 p.m. and will move to the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex in Inuvik, NT on Tuesday, 20 April. A live audio feed from the hearing will be provided in English, French, Inuvialuktun, Gwich'in, North Slavey, South Slavey and Dene Tha' on the National Energy Board's website at www.neb-one.gc.ca.

"We are looking forward to hearing the views and opinions of hearing participants on the decisions we must take," said NEB Panel Chairman Kenneth Vollman.

A full list of appearances for final argument is available in Procedural Update No. 17 (amended) issued by the NEB on 8 April 2010.

The NEB is planning to release its Reasons for Decision in September.

The NEB is an independent federal agency that regulates parts of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety and security, environmental protection, and efficient energy infrastructure and markets in the Canadian public interest, within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

This news release is available on the NEB's Internet site at www.neb-one.gc.ca under What's New!

For further information: Sarah Kiley (sarah.kiley@neb-one.gc.ca), Communications Officer, Telephone: (403) 299-3633, TTY (teletype): 1-800-632-1663