Environmental assessment confirmed for Imperial Oil pipeline replacement in N.W.T.

Imperial Oil's plan to replace a damaged pipeline between two islands at its operation in Norman Wells, N.W.T., will undergo an environmental assessment.

The Mackenzie Valley Review Board sent out notice of the assessment on Wednesday.

It will look into the different ways the project could impact the environment andnearby communities.

The environmental assessment was ordered by the Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated, which voted on it earlier this week.

That vote was contentious and secretariat chairCharles McNeely said directors are still working on the wording of the motion that was passed. The changes won't have any effect on the environmental assessment, McNeely said.

Imperial Oil has argued that the work on replacing the pipe is covered under existing permits.

In documents filed to the Mackenzie Valley Review Board, the Sahtu Secretariat disagreed, saying the work is substantially different from what's previously been authorized.

The documents state that it includes horizontal drilling under the Mackenzie River.

Imperial Oil said earlier that it needs a regulatory decision on the project by Oct. 1 to take advantage of the winter road season and get the work done next year.

The environmental assessment guarantees that won't happen.

Imperial Oil said if that deadline is not met, it may have to shut down operations at Norman Wells by 2026 or earlier.

The subject of Imperial Oil and community involvement in monitoring it was discussed at length at the Sahtu Secretariat's annual general meeting in Fort Good Hope this week.