National Energy Board orders Enbridge to cease work on pipeline in Manitoba

The National Energy Board has ordered Enbridge Inc. to stop work along its Line 3 oil pipeline in Manitoba after an inspection earlier this month revealed numerous environmental and safety concerns.

Line 3 has been carrying crude between Alberta and Wisconsin for nearly half a century. Enbridge announced plans earlier this year to replace the pipeline in its entirety — a $7.5-billion undertaking that would be the largest project in the company’s history.

Company spokesman Graham White said Friday the NEB order relates to regular maintenance work on the existing pipeline around Cromer, Man., not the larger replacement project.

The NEB says it won’t allow work to resume until it’s satisfied the problems have been fixed by Enbridge.

“During the inspection of the project, it was observed that multiple construction mitigation measures committed to by Enbridge in its Environmental Protection Plan to conserve topsoil, control erosion and manage drainage were not implemented,” the NEB said in its order.

That has resulted in “numerous non-compliances observed both on and off the construction right-of-way causing environmental damage to wetlands and property damage to a substantial amount of agricultural land.”

The NEB order also said erosion, lack of safe access to agricultural land and open excavations and trenchlines pose safety hazards.