Distrust of and frustration with Calgary-based company TransCanada was voiced loud and clear this week to the National Energy Board by those living in Red Head and Anthony’s Cove, N.B.
The company’s proposed Energy East project would see the construction of both a marine terminal and a tank farm in the area. The tank farm would be at the end of the west-to-east pipeline itself and have 22 tanks with an oil storage capacity of 600,000 barrels which was a major point of concern for residents who live nearby.
Anthony’s Cove resident Gary Prosser told the NEB at the first hearing this week in Saint John that TransCanada has displayed a lack of concern and regard for the local residents.
“I have no comfort level with TransCanada,” Prosser stated.
Red Head resident Lynaya Astephen, who is also the spokesperson for the Red Head Anthony’s Cove Preservation Association, stated to the board that she does not trust TransCanada. There was also concern expressed about meeting requests getting shot down.
Energy East president John Soini says he takes this very seriously, and says they’ve reached out to every landowner that has a stake in this project in New Brunswick and they will continue to do so.
“We’ve had the opportunity as an organization to build effective relationships with landowners and communities over the course of the last 65 years that we’ve operated pipelines across this country and the relationships that we build in New Brunswick are just as critical to us.”
“We’re absolutely committed to building those relationships and I’m personally committed to building those relationships as well.”
The NEB hearings into the Energy East pipeline move to Fredericton starting on August 15.
