Energy East pipeline: What you need to know about the Quebec hearings

There's plenty at stake asQuebec's environmental hearings begin today into the controversialEnergy East pipeline project.

Here's what you need to know about the BAPEreviewinto the $15.7-billion project, whichwould carry 1.1 millionbarrels a day of western crude as far east as Saint John.

• Energy East: What you need to know
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How do the hearings work?

They will be held inLvis,near Quebec City, from Monday March, 7, to Thursday, March 17. Video conference halls have also been set up in Laval andTrois-Rivires.

The full schedule isavailable here.

The public will have an opportunity to share their opinion on the project in asecond round of hearingsscheduled to begin on April 25. Details on how to participatecan be found here.

Afinal report based on theBAPEhearingsis to be delivered to the Quebec government in November 2016.

Does the outcome matter?

Ultimately, the federal government decides whether the Energy East pipeline project gets the go-ahead, but the BAPE hearings could have major consequences.

Pipelines that cross provincial boundaries are subject to a federal environmental review process administered by the National Energy Board. The federal cabinet makes the final decision, taking into account the NEB's recommendation.

But provinces, including Quebec, are conducting their own reviews to help formulate their positions, which are considered in the NEB process.

What is the Couillard government's position?

TheQuebec governmentannounced last weekit'sgoing to court to ensure the plans for theQuebecportion of the project respect the province's environmental laws and regulations.

But the province has stressed the court battle isn't an attempt to shut down the project, but insteadto assert provincial environmental jurisdiction.

"I want to point out that this should not be interpreted as us being for or against the project,"Environment Minister David Heurtel said last week.

"Rather, as inother provinces, it is an attempt to have our laws and regulations respected."

Will TransCanada take part in the hearings?

Yes. TransCanada has indicated it will participate in the BAPE hearings.

"We will answer the questions, we will bring the maximum amount of information," said Louis Bergeron, the vice-president responsible for the Energy East file.

"We believe that this is the best way to make Quebecers aware of the project and reach the level of social acceptability that we desire."

What happened to the environmental coalition's injunction?

Acoalition of environmental groupswas seeking an injunction because it believes the hearings will not be complete without impact studies fromTransCanada, which is behind the proposed pipeline.

But a Quebec Superior Court judgeruled last weekthe hearings can go ahead.

The coalition arguedQuebec's environmental regulation agencyhas beengiven a "truncated mandate" because of the absence of impactstudies submitted to the province.

TransCanadahas not replied to the Quebec government'srequests for formal notice, saying Energy East is subject only tofederal regulation.