Energy East pipeline project to undergo environmental impact study in Quebec

MONTREAL – The Quebec government said TransCanada has agreed to subject its Energy East pipeline project to the province’s environmental regulations.

Environment Minister David Heurtel says the company filed paperwork Friday as required under Quebec’s Environment Quality Act and will have to produce an impact study by June 6, 2016.

For Greenpeace spokesperson Patrick Bonin, this agreement is a win.

“We’ll have a much better environmental assessment,” Bonin said. “Much more complete than what we were going to get.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We'll have a much better environmental assessment," Bonin said. "Much more complete than what we were going to get."

The province said it is committed to withdrawing the application upon approval of the environmental impact study and both sides have pledged to respect a strict timetable.

Energy East would bring 1.1 million barrels of oil a day from Alberta and Saskatchewan through Quebec and into New Brunswick for overseas shipping.

Quebec’s environmental review agency is scheduled to begin a second round of public hearings into Energy East on April 25.