News News Releases Archives April-June 2004

COMMISSION, NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD OF CANADA SIGN AGREEMENT ON NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COOPERATION

Top officials with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Canada's National Energy Board today signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance interagency coordination on cross-border natural gas pipelines.

FERC Chairman Pat Wood, III and NEB Chairman Ken Vollman signed the MOU in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they were attending the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Members of Public Utility Tribunals.

"The United States and Canada have a long history of cooperation and trade in energy. This MOU will serve us well as our two countries become ever more interdependent in cross-border energy issues," said FERC Chairman Wood.

"This agreement reinforces our existing cooperative relationship and furthers the work of both agencies," said Chairman Vollman. "The interests of both the public and regulated companies will be better met through enhanced coordination of our agencies' regulatory responsibilities."

The MOU addresses the sharing of information between FERC and the NEB, and calls for the two agencies to coordinate the timing of pipeline regulatory decisions to the extent possible. "Sharing of information and timely decision-making are two critical elements for the siting and construction of a natural gas pipeline across Canada to bring natural gas stranded in Alaska to the lower 48 states," Chairman Wood said.

The National Energy Board is an independent federal agency that regulates several aspects of Canada's energy industry. Its purpose is to promote safety, environmental protection and economic efficiency in the Canadian public interest within the mandate set by Parliament in the regulation of pipelines, energy development and trade.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is an independent agency that regulates the interstate transmission of natural gas and oil, and sales and transmission of electricity at wholesale. FERC also licenses hydropower projects.

R-04-16

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