The Trans Mountain pipeline — a project which Mayor Neil Menard believes could bring an economic boom to the City of Merritt — now faces an additional hurdle before any potential final approval.

The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) issued notice to Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada, that the pipeline-twinning project would have to undergo a provincial environmental assessment, on top of the review done by the National Energy Board (NEB). That review is expected by May 20, but it is unclear how the new requirement could affect the overall timeline for the project.

The project website still lists September, 2017 as the desired start date for construction, but that date is pending the pipeline’s approval from the federal cabinet following the NEB review, and now, the provincial environmental assessment. The project would “twin” the current Trans Mountain pipeline, from the Alberta border down through Kamloops to the Burrard Inlet.

Despite being an ardent supporter of the pipeline, Menard wasn’t fazed by the news of an additional review.

“If it’s something they have to do, how can you be upset about it?” said Menard.

“We found that Kinder Morgan is very good — they are prepared to do almost whatever is necessary to satisfy the concerns of the community and the concerns of First Nations. They’ll do it, and I’m sure they can do it in a timely manner,” he added.

The additional review became necessary after a B.C. Supreme Court decision regarding the Northern Gateway project forced that pipeline to also undergo a provincial assessment alongside the NEB hearings.

A representative from Kinder Morgan explained to the Herald that the additional assessment was expected as a result of “current court rulings. It presents an opportunity for Trans Mountain to ensure the proposed project is meeting the province’s environmental requirements while addressing the concerns of First Nations communities.”

The City of Merritt is set to receive $420,000 worth of in-kind work to build trails in the area from Kinder Morgan, as well as $50,000 in scholarship funds for trades students, as part of the community benefit agreement signed with the pipeline company just over a year ago.

“Our city is very supportive of the pipeline. Our city is going to benefit, we’re going to have jobs from the pipeline, and there will be jobs after. I’m disappointed that it might be delayed again, on behalf of the City of Merritt… but what do you do?” explained Menard.

As the March 17 letter from the B.C. EAO to Kinder Morgan explains, some parts of the national review will fulfill the requirements of the provincial assessment, but the provincial process will also involve a complete evaluation of all the consultation and negotiation with Aboriginal groups.

For Chief Aaron Sam of the Lower Nicola Indian Band, the additional review process is a welcome chance to consult with Kinder Morgan regarding some lingering environmental and economic concerns.

Sam said the band hasn’t taken an official position on the pipeline, which would run through the band’s traditional territory.

“But we do have concerns relating to the environment. We have concerns about not just the pipe that would be going in, but the pipe that’s been in the ground for more than half a century already,” he explained.The band is taking a “wait and see” approach with provincial assessment, and are waiting for the company or the B.C. EAO to begin discussions, said Sam.“We’ve had some discussions, specific to some of the environmental concerns, but we haven’t had really substantive discussions and I anticipate we’ll be having those in the near future,” said Sam.