SIXTH FLOOR. 900 HOWE STREET. BOX 250 TELEPHONE: (604) 660-4700 VANCOUVER. B.C. V6Z 2N3 BC TOLL FREE: 1-800-663-1385 CANADA FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102 IN THE MATTER OF the Utilities Commission Act, S.B.C. 1980, c. 60, as amended and An Application by BC Gas Utility Ltd. BEFORE: M.K. Jaccard, Chairperson; and ) April 12, 1994 K.L. Hall, Commissioner ) ORDER WHEREAS: A. On August 23, 1993, pursuant to Section 18 of the Utilities Commission Act (lithe Act"), BC Gas Utility Ltd. ("BC Gas") submitted an Energy Project Certificate Application to the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources (lithe Minister") to construct and operate a 29.8 km, 406.4 mm (l6-inch) natural gas transmission pipeline from its existing Oliver Y Station, north of Oliver B.c., to a new station at the east end of Penticton B.C. together with new compressor station facilities located near Midway, B.C. and Kitchener, B.C. (lithe Application"); and B. Provincial Government agencies have reviewed the Application and reports received in support of the Application; and C. The Minister's staff conveyed the "Summary of Agency Comments" in a letter dated December 16, 1993 and subsequent correspondence dated January 10, 1994, February 9, 1994, March 4, 1994 and March 8, 1994 to BC Gas; and D. On April 8, 1994, pursuant to Section 19(1)(b) of the Act, the Minister referred the Application, "Summary of Agency Comments" and subsequent correspondence to the Commission to be dealt with as an application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity ("CPCN") under Part 3 of the Act; and E. Commission staff has conducted a review of the need and justification for the project which included an Information Request to BC Gas dated November 10, 1993 and a review of responses filed December 9, 1993, January 14, 1994, and February 8, 1994; and F. The Commission has also received copies of written comments from certain landowners, agencies, and members of the public in Okanagan Falls and Penticton, B.C. expressing concerns about the proposed pipeline routing in the vicinity of these communities with respect to pipeline safety and various localized land use issues; and G. The Commission has reviewed all of the relevant information and has determined that, while the project is both necessary for the secure supply of natural gas to customers in the region and economically justified, certain localized pipeline routing issues require further review.
2 G-28-94 NOW THEREFORE the Commission orders as follows: 1. Pursuant to Section 93(2) of the Act, Kenneth L. Hall, Commissioner, is appointed to conduct an Inquiry into and report on the best routing for the proposed pipeline in the vicinity of the communities of Penticton B.C. and Okanagan Falls B.C. The Inquiry is also to consider such other matters as Commissioner Hall determines relevant. Mr. William J. Grant, Executive Director, and Mr. Paul H. Gronert, Manager Petroleum Engineering will assist Commissioner Hall. 2. BC Gas will arrange for publication of the Notice of Inquiry set out in Appendix A to this Order in the next issue of the Penticton Herald and the South Okanagan Review. The newspaper advertisements are to be supplemented by posting the Notice on community bulletin boards and by the use of spot radio advertisements or community service announcements so as to provide for adequate public information in the affected area. 3. BC Gas will mail a copy of the Notice to all landowners whose property is directly affected by either the BC Gas proposed pipeline route or the first alternative route in areas where concerns have been raised. An updated copy of the Application is to be available for review in the Penticton district office of BC Gas. DATED at the City of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia this day of April 1994. BY ORDER Dr. Mark K Jac:cal'o Chairperson Attch. BCUC/Orders/BCG -Song
Appendix A to Order No. G-28-94 Page No. 1 of 2 Pages NOTICE OF PUBLIC INQUIRY Into the routing of the proposed 16" BC Gas natural gas transmission pipeline between Oliver, B.C. and Penticton, B.C. ISSUES The Commission has detennined that the public interest requires the addition of pipeline capacity between Oliver and Penticton, B.c. and compression facilities near Midway and Kitchener, B.c. The Commission is aware that a variety of concerns have been voiced relating to safety and land use aspects of the proposed pipeline routing in the vicinity of Okanagan Falls and Penticton, B.c. The Purpose of the Inquiry is to ensure that all outstanding issues relating to this matter are reviewed in a public forum before the British Columbia Utilities Commission, pursuant to Sections 93 and 86 of the Utilities Commission Act. Mr. Kenneth L. Hall, Commissioner, has been appointed Inquiry Officer to review this matter and report his recommendations to the Commission. PUBLIC INQUIRY FORMAT • The Inquiry will be held on consecutive evenings in Okanagan Falls and Penticton. • Each session will focus on routing issues for that community only. • The sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m., opening with a BC Gas summation of the rationale for its recommended route and a comparative review of other possible routes. • Following this introductory phase, the floor will be open to verbal presentations from any interested party and/or questions which any party may wish to direct to BC Gas. • The Inquiry Officer will also accept written submissions from parties who may not wish to make a verbal presentation. • Parties making verbal presentations should be prepared to answer questions from the Inquiry Officer.
TIME AND PLACE Okanagan Falls Routing Review: Thursday April 28, 1994 7:00 p.m. to completion Okanagan Falls Community Centre 1141 Cedar Street Okanagan Falls, B.c. CLARIFICATION For those persons wishing to make a presentation at the Public Inquiry, an updated copy of the Application will be available for review in the Penticton district office of Be Gas. Persons intending to participate in the Inquiry, who are uncertain as to the manper in which to proceed, may contact Mr. Robert J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary or Mr. Paul Gronert, Manager, Petroleum Engineering, in writing to: British Columbia Utilities Commission Sixth Floor - 900 Howe Street Vancouver, B.C. V6Z2N3 FACSIMILE: (604) 660-1102; or by toll free telephone at 1-800-663-1385. BCUC/Orders/BCG-SONG Appendix AAppendix A to Order No. G-28-94 Page No.2 of 2 Pages Penticton Routing Review: Friday April 29, 1994 7:00 p.m. to completion Sandman Inn 939 Burnaby Street Penticton, B.C. BY ORDER Robert J. Pellatt ~ Commission Secretary
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