Kinder Morgan president says draft Trans Mountain pipeline conditions achievable

VANCOUVER – Kinder Morgan Canada’s president says 145 draft conditions affecting the company’s proposed expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline are rigorous but achievable.

Ian Anderson’s comments come one day after the National Energy Board released conditions involving the company’s $5.4-billion plan to triple the bitumen-carrying capacity of the pipeline between Edmonton and Metro Vancouver.

Anderson says Kinder Morgan will file its comments with the NEB next Thursday and ask it to clarify the timing of certain conditions and further explain parts of the approval process.

Related: Two environmental groups, 33 individuals withdraw from Kinder Morgan pipeline regulatory hearings

Key draft conditions include orders requiring Kinder Morgan to hold more than $1 billion in liability coverage and to detail its plans to protect endangered species and reduce emissions.

The company would also have to file reports about its discussions with First Nations every six months until operations begin and then annually for five years.

Critics say the conditions ignore their input, while more than 35 groups and citizens have already quit the NEB review process, calling it biased and unfair.