Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. Submits Application for Environmental Assessment Certificate

PRINCE GEORGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA – March 12, 2014 – An application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate has been submitted by Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. (Coastal GasLink) to the BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO). Today the 180-day EAO public review period begins, which includes a 45-day period where the public can provide comments on the application.

The proposed project involves the construction and operation of an approximately 650 kilometre natural gas pipeline from the Groundbirch area near Dawson Creek, B.C. to the proposed LNG Canada liquefied natural gas export facility near Kitimat, B.C.

Coastal GasLink’s application consists of 7,200 pages of text, maps and tables. The required content of the application was developed through a public process that generated the Application Information Requirements (AIR) issued by the EAO in May 2013. The AIR process included a public comment period, open houses, and input from the EAO working group whose members represent federal, provincial, and local government and Aboriginal groups.

Beginning on January 29, 2014 the application was subjected to a 30-day completeness review by the EAO and the working group. The completeness review ensured that the application met all the Application Information Requirements.

The 45-day public comment period runs from March 21 to May 4, 2014. The EAO will prepare a report based on its internal review of the application, input from the working group, as well as comments received from the public, and submit recommendations on the proposed Project to the Government of B.C.

The application is available for review on the BC EAO website, (http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca), and was distributed to public libraries in the project area.

As part of the public comment process, the EAO is holding the following open houses:

Thursday, March 27, 2014 – 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Chetwynd & District Recreational Centre – Chetwynd, B.C.

Tuesday, April 1, 2014 – 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fraser Lake Recreational Complex – Fraser Lake, B.C.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014 – 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Burns Lake Heritage Centre – Burns Lake, B.C.

Thursday, April 3, 2014 – 4:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Riverlodge Recreation Centre – Kitimat, B.C.

Public comment is sought to ensure that all potential adverse effects – environmental, economic, social, heritage and health – are identified and considered as part of the assessment process.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION – COASTAL GASLINK PIPELINE PROJECT

• Coastal GasLink Pipeline Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of TransCanada PipeLines Limited.
• The project was launched on June 5, 2012 with Aboriginal and community engagement beginning immediately thereafter.
• Coastal GasLink conducted over 150,000 hours of environmental, engineering and construction field work on or near the proposed pipeline route.
• Coastal GasLink gathered information about current and traditional land use, social and economic conditions and community priorities in the project area.
• Pending regulatory approval, start of construction is anticipated in 2015-2016, with the pipeline in-service by the end of the decade, and is subject to a Final Investment Decision by LNG Canada and its sponsors.
• Coastal GasLink will provide long-term economic benefits for both B.C. and Canada, including:
  • Job Opportunities – An estimated 2,000 to 2,500 jobs during construction and 16 to 35 permanent positions when operations begin.
  • Business Opportunities – Investment in local goods and services, including food and accommodation, hardware, fuel, parts and servicing, and more.
  • Local Spending – Project spend is estimated at over $4 billion. An additional $42 million will be spent each year, mainly in B.C., after the pipeline is in operation.
  • Annual Property Tax Revenue – Approximately $20.88 million a year in property tax benefits will help to support community services and infrastructure, such as fire protection and police services, school districts, hospital districts, and waste management.
  • Community Investment – Ongoing commitment supporting education and training opportunities for local and Aboriginal communities, as well as community partnerships with local organizations focused on environmental, safety and community initiatives.
    • Over the past five years TransCanada has contributed approximately $1.9 million in community partnerships in northeast and southeast B.C.

With more than 60 years’ experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and oil pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada operates a network of natural gas pipelines that extends more than 68,500 kilometres (42,500 miles), tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is one of the continent’s largest providers of gas storage and related services with more than 400 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A growing independent power producer, TransCanada owns or has interests in over 11,800 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is developing one of North America’s largest oil delivery systems. TransCanada’s common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. For more information visit: www.transcanada.com or check us out on Twitter @TransCanada or http://blog.transcanada.com.

FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This publication contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as “anticipate”, “expect”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “estimate”, “intend” or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada security holders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its subsidiaries, including management’s assessment of TransCanada’s and its subsidiaries’ future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TransCanada’s beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release, and not to use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information except as required by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to TransCanada’s 2013 Annual Report dated February 19, 2014 available on our website at www.transcanada.com or filed under TransCanada’s profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.

TransCanada Media Enquiries:
Shawn Howard/Grady Semmens/Davis Sheremata
403.920.7859 or 800.608.7859

TransCanada Investor & Analyst Enquiries:
David Moneta/Lee Evans
403.920.7911 or 800.361.6522

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