By Kevin J. Sabo For the Advance
Calgary’s Inter Pipeline was in Castor on Nov. 7 consulting with residents of the region on the proposed Throne Halkirk Interconnector pipeline.
The proposed 80 km pipeline will connect the existing Throne Station, which is part of the Bow River Pipeline System, and the existing Halkirk Lateral pipeline, which is part of the Central Alberta Pipeline System.
In total, 42 area residents and affected landowners came out to the open house. Those who attended were given maps and information on the proposed pipeline route.
“Inter Pipeline was quite pleased with the turnout at this open house,” said Shelby Hamilton, the supervisor of Regulatory Applications for Inter Pipeline.
When asked for comment on the proposed pipeline, Paintearth County CAO Michael Simpson said “Council would have been given the opportunity to attend the open house with the rest of the ratepayers and voice concerns and hear what ratepayers were saying to the company managing the project. There’s been no official county stance on the pipeline, however, I can say that we would follow all the requirements outlined in our land use bylaw with respect to development permits and notifications on the project; bear in mind that much of the environmental due diligence on this will need to satisfy requirements from Alberta Environment, however, the county will be working to ensure all appropriate clearances from all required authorities are confirmed to an extent that we are authorized to.”
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With some environmental studies scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2019, the route of the pipeline has yet to be finalized. Providing there are no legal challenges to the project, and all approvals and permits are issued, construction of the 80 km is tentatively scheduled to begin in June 2019, with the project coming online sometime in 2020.