National Energy Board approves expansion of Trans Mountain terminal in Burnaby

The National Energy Board says the Trans Mountain pipeline project has met conditions required for the expansion of its Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, B.C.

Trans Mountain, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan Canada, has plans to expand the terminal’s dock to load three tankers, up from one, and increase the number of delivery lines connected to its other Burnaby terminal.

The expanded terminal is part of a $7.4-billion project that would triple the capacity of an Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline and increase tanker traffic in the Vancouver area.

READ MORE: Trans Mountain Pipeline is not in B.C.’s best interest says BC NDP government

The board says in a letter to Kinder Morgan published on its website Wednesday that there are 157 conditions imposed on the project overall and the pre-construction conditions specifically pertaining to the terminal have now been satisfied.

Trans Mountain refiled its environmental protection plans for the terminal on Aug. 17, which the board said included details for mitigating previously raised issues about the project and evidence that it held additional public consultations.

Trans Mountain couldn’t immediately be reached for comment, but the company’s website says terminal construction was set to begin in September.

British Columbia’s NDP government recently announced it would join the legal fight against the pipeline expansion and was granted intervener status this week in a legal challenge brought by several First Nations and municipalities objecting to Ottawa’s approval of the project.

READ MORE: B.C. granted intervener status in Trans Mountain pipeline battle

Watch below: Videos from Global News’ ongoing coverage of the controversy surrounding the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

1:34 BC NDP joins legal challenge against Trans Mountain pipeline project

• BC NDP joins legal challenge against Trans Mountain pipeline project
• Will there be more measures coming against the Trans Mountain pipeline?
• Will the province consider legal action to stop the Trans Mountain pipeline?
• First Nations legal issues and provincial abilities to be used against Trans Mountain: Horgan
• Opposition in B.C. has right to use courts to oppose Trans Mountain: Carr
• NDP’s Cullen says B.C. accepting huge risk on Trans Mountain pipeline
• Trans Mountain pipeline reveals need to develop better pipeline strategy: Elizabeth May
• Alberta premier stresses commitment to Trans Mountain
• Rachel Notley says Trans Mountain opponents can’t hold economy hostage
• Evraz to provide supply 800 kilometres of pipeline for Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion needs
• BIV: Business community reacts to Trans Mountain pipeline approval
• BIV: Business community reacts to Trans Mountain pipeline approval
• Trans Mountain pipeline expansion approved in B.C.
• Province gives Trans Mountain expansion environmental approval
• Premier Notley speaks about Jane Fonda visit, Trans Mountain approval
• Premier Christy Clark’s message to those opposed to Trans Mountain pipeline
• How the Trans Mountain pipeline met environmental approval
• Presser: B.C. grants environmental assessment approval for Trans Mountain pipeline
• Federal government approves Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline

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The new provincial government also warned the company earlier this month that it can’t begin work on public land until it gets final approval from the province.

Premier John Horgan promised in the provincial election this spring to use “every tool in the toolbox” to stop the expansion by Trans Mountain.

READ MORE: Notley to keep talking pipelines with BC despite Horgan’s potential absence at premiers meeting

B.C.’s former Liberal government issued an environmental certificate for the project earlier this year.

B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman has said the storage facility and marine terminal in Burnaby are on private property, but the majority of the pipeline either passes through First Nations territory or public land.