FERC Public Scoping Meetings
In January and February of 2012, APP participated in public meetings sponsored by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. FERC’s public scoping meetings were held in Alaska communities to inform the public about the project and its potential environmental impacts.
Resource Reports
On January 13, 2012, the Alaska Pipeline Project filed drafts of Resource Reports 1-11 with the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This filing is a required step in the federal regulatory process. These reports will eventually form part of the project's application to FERC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN). FERC utilizes a pre-filing process for early identification of issues and to facilitate efficient and timely development of the project's Environmental Impact Statement. The Resource Reports currently filed with FERC are drafts and are subject to change as project work continues to advance.
The Alaska Pipeline Project's draft Resource Reports 1 -11 are posted on the FERC website.
Permitting
The Alaska Pipeline Project is actively working to file major permit applications with U.S. and Canadian regulatory agencies in 2012.
- For the U.S. portion of the project, overall oversight of the permitting process is coordinated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) as established in the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act.
- In Canada, the permitting process runs through the Northern Pipeline Agency (NPA) as established in the Northern Pipeline Act.
The project is making significant progress towards filing permit applications with FERC and the NPA, including:
- Filing of project information with regulators in Alaska and Canada. APP is providing project information to regulators in advance of the 2012 application date, in order to facilitate a more efficient and timely regulatory process. In January 2012, the project filed draft Resource Reports with FERC. Read Resource Reports.
- Active ongoing discussions with regulators. The project is working closely with regulatory agencies in the U.S. and Canada. APP is participating in FERC’s public scoping meetings, held in Alaska in January and February 2012. View meeting schedule
- Extensive studies and field work in Alaska and Canada. The project collected extensive data during its 2010 and 2011 field programs. Read more about project field studies. The project has also been conducting a number of technical and engineering studies to refine plans for project design and construction. Read more about engineering and construction.
- Dialogue with key external stakeholders, including Alaska Natives, First Nations and Canadian aboriginal groups. In the winter and spring of 2010 and 2011, the project conducted a number of community meetings to engage with Alaska Natives, First Nations and other Canadian aboriginal groups along the proposed pipeline corridor. Read more about Stakeholder Engagement.
U.S. Regulation and Permitting
In 2004, the U.S. Congress passed the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act (ANGPA) to advance the development of a pipeline to transport Alaska's natural gas to the North American market. ANGPA created the Office of the Federal Coordinator (OFC), an independent federal agency, to help expedite and coordinate federal permitting and pipeline construction. ANGPA also provided guidance to FERC on regulating open seasons for Alaskan natural gas pipeline projects.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is an independent federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas in the United States. FERC's responsibilities, among other duties, include regulating the siting of interstate natural gas pipelines and overseeing the environmental reviews related to natural gas transmission. While the OFC coordinates efforts between federal agencies, governments and stakeholders, FERC is the lead U.S. federal agency responsible for the Alaska Pipeline Project. FERC is tasked with issuing the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) for the project. The CPCN would authorize the Alaska Pipeline Project to construct, install, operate and maintain the project, and allow the project to transport and sell natural gas in interstate commerce. FERC is also the designated lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and oversees the preparation of a consolidated Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for all federal agencies.
Canadian Regulation and Permitting
Enacted in the late 1970s, the Northern Pipeline Act (NPA) is the primary legislative framework for securing the expedited Canadian federal approvals necessary for the planning and construction of the Canadian portion of the Alaska Pipeline Project. The Northern Pipeline Agency is the central decision-making authority responsible for advancing the NPA regulatory approval process in Canada, establishing consultation with stakeholders, and reviewing and approving the project’s design, construction, and environmental plans. The Northern Pipeline Agency acts as the liaison between Canadian federal authorities and the Alaska Pipeline Project, as well as provincial and territorial governments and the U.S. federal government.
Pursuant to the NPA, the Alaska Pipeline Project, through TransCanada and its wholly-owned subsidiary Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd., holds NPA Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for the construction of all Canadian segments of the project. As a consequence, the Alaska Pipeline Project is the only entity to have existing legislation providing for expedited project certification. This is a key advantage that benefits the legal framework for the Alaska Pipeline Project in Canada.