Land Matters Consultation Initiative (LMCI) Update - April 2008

The National Energy Board (NEB) would like to thank all of the people who have taken time from their own busy schedules to participate in the Land Matters Consultation Initiative (LMCI).

The LMCI was launched in October 2007 to provide a forum for interested parties and the Board to discuss and generate options for the Board's review of lands issues. These discussions are expected to improve understanding of various interests, which will also help to develop stronger working relationships among the different parties.

The initiative moved into gear in January 2008 and the process is now well underway.

To date, 165 individuals, groups and companies have registered their interest, and over 400 people have participated in the LMCI consultations facilitated by NEB staff, taking place across Canada. Board Members representing the NEB also participated in some of the meetings. A detailed schedule of the consultation meetings, and outcome notes, are posted on the LMCI Consultation Schedule web page.

LMCI discussions are looking at the range of existing legislative tools (such as regulations, guidance notes, the filing manual, inspections and audits) to identify possible improvements in the future.

The LMCI discussion is separated into four streams:

1. Company Interactions with Landowners;
2. Improving the Accessibility of NEB Processes;
3. Pipeline Abandonment - Financial Issues; and
4. Pipeline Abandonment - Physical Issues.

Discussion papers on these four topics are available on the LMCI web page. Announcements, events, correspondence and meeting notes will also be posted or accessed through the LMCI page. Interested parties can also register their interest in the LMCI process.

The deadline for written submissions for Stream 4, pipeline abandonment - physical issues, is Monday May 12^th. The deadline for Stream 1 and 2 was extended recently to Tuesday May 20^th.

LMCI Stream 3, an examination of the financial issues relating to the abandonment of pipelines, is running as a National Energy Board hearing, RH-2-2008.

A pre-hearing procedural conference was held in Calgary April 3^rd. The outcome report from this pre-hearing conference is available in the NEB Regulatory Documents.

The Board recently announced an extension of the deadline to register as an intervenor in the Stream 3 Hearing, and modifications to the hearing timetable. The oral hearing will begin in January 2009. Complete details [Filing A18396] are available in the regulatory documents repository.

For more information about the LMCI, please contact:

General Questions:

Jane Morales (jane.morales@neb-one.gc.ca)
Regulatory Officer
Telephone: 403-299-3933
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

Media Inquiries:

Andrew Cameron
Communications Officer
Telephone: 403-299-3930
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265

Project Manager:

Karla Reesor (karla.reesor@neb-one.gc.ca)
Project Manager
Telephone: 403-299-3867
Telephone (toll free): 1-800-899-1265