Spectra Energy's Proposed Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project Receives Environmental Assessment Certificate

VANCOUVER, Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ - Spectra Energy SE today announced that its proposed Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project continues to advance, following receipt of an Environmental Assessment Certificate by the Government of British Columbia.

"We are very pleased that the Environmental Assessment Certificate granted today for our Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project brings us closer to achieving our vision of serving multiple LNG projects in the Prince Rupert area," said Greg Ebel, president and chief executive officer of Spectra Energy. "We believe providing for multiple pipelines in a single corridor is a smart, thoughtful way to plan for the sustainable growth of a new LNG industry in British Columbia."

The environmental review of the Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project assessed a natural gas transportation corridor that could accommodate up to two 48-inch pipelines with total design capacity of 8.4 billion cubic feet per day.

"With more than six decades of experience in the province, we know that pursuing this opportunity must be done in a way that minimizes impacts and respects the values and priorities of British Columbians," said Doug Bloom, president of Spectra Energy's Canadian LNG business. "Our Project team has spent the last three years gathering input from across northern British Columbia with people whom we want to build long-term relationships."

From the outset, the Westcoast Connector Project Team has been committed to a collaborative, consistent and continuous approach to interactions with local and Aboriginal communities, and other stakeholders.

"We thank everyone who has devoted time and expertise to bring us to this important milestone in our project, and we look forward to continuing the conversations" continued Bloom. 

The next stage of outreach will include collecting input to meeting the Project's Environmental Assessment Certificate conditions, development of an inclusive labour strategy, permitting process preparation and planning to support community readiness. Spectra Energy will also continue to advance its discussions with potential partners to secure additional customers for the multi-pipeline corridor.   

In British Columbia, Spectra Energy's natural gas pipeline system has been the backbone of the province's natural gas industry since 1957 and today safely moves more than 60% of the natural gas developed in the province.  With nearly 900 employees living and working in the province and a natural gas system that delivers benefits for all British Columbians, Spectra Energy is committed to being a partner of choice in the responsible growth of a vibrant and competitive natural gas sector. For more information on the Westcoast Connector Gas Transmission Project, please visit energyforbc.ca.

Spectra Energy Corp SE, a FORTUNE 500 company, is one of North America's leading pipeline and midstream companies. Based in Houston, Texas, the company's operations in the United States and Canada include more than 22,000 miles of natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil pipelines; approximately 305 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of natural gas storage; 4.8 million barrels of crude oil storage; as well as natural gas gathering, processing, and local distribution operations. Spectra Energy is the general partner of Spectra Energy Partners SEP, one of the largest pipeline master limited partnerships in the United States and owner of the natural gas, natural gas liquids, and crude oil assets in Spectra Energy's U.S. portfolio. Spectra Energy also has a 50 percent ownership in DCP Midstream, the largest producer of natural gas liquids and the largest natural gas processor in the United States. Spectra Energy has served North American customers and communities for more than a century. The company's longstanding values are recognized through its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indexes and the CDP S&P 500 Climate Disclosure and Performance Leadership Indexes. For more information, visit www.spectraenergy.com and www.spectraenergypartners.com.

SOURCE Spectra Energy Corp.