Kinder Morgan hearings scheduled for Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion

The National Energy Board has scheduled public hearings on KinderMorgan's proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline system, which would triple its capacity to ship crude oil between Strathcona County,near Edmonton, and Burnaby, B.C.

The board will hear aboriginal traditional evidence in August and September. An oral hearing will begin next January.

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More than 400 intervenerand more than 1,200commentators are expected to take part in the hearings, which will look at 12 issues.

They include potential environmental and socio-economic effects, as well aspotential impacts on aboriginal interests, landowners and land use.

The project would add to the current pipeline networkthat exists in Alberta and B.C.

The final report is to be presented by July 2015.