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Nova Gas Transmission ordered to stop drilling under the Athabasca

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. a subsidiary of TransCanada Corp.  is being forced to stop all drilling activity under the Athabasca River at its McDermott Extension natural gas pipeline project located about 75 kilometres north of Fort McMurray.

The National Energy Board’s Inspection Officer Order to cease all further horizontal and directional drilling follows four instances where drilling resulted in the release of drilling fluid into the Athabasca River. The NEB also reports that one slope failure was recorded.

The Energy Board is investigating the spills and is evaluating the drilling mud composition and volumes of fluid released.