Final Environmental Impact Study
posted on
Oct 03, 2008 07:13PM
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Tonbridge Power Announces Official Release of Final United States Environmental Impact Statement for MATL Project
TORONTO, ONTARIO, Oct 1, 2008 (Marketwire via COMTEX) -- Tonbridge Power Inc. (TBZ), ("Tonbridge Power" or the "Company"), 100% controlling shareholder of the Montana Alberta Tie Ltd. ("MATL") transmission line project to interconnect the electricity markets of Alberta and the US through a 300 MW transmission line, is pleased to announce the release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement ("FEIS") for the MATL project. Today we have been advised by the Department of Energy ("DOE") that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will be posting a "Notice of Availability" of the FEIS in the Federal Register this Friday October 3 2008. The FEIS has been posted by the DOE on their website for review at www.gc.energy.gov/nepa.
The official release of the FEIS is the key milestone in the process of obtaining final US permits to construct and operate the MATL line. In the days ahead both the DOE and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality ("MDEQ") will consider and release their final permitting decisions based on this carefully considered regulatory work. It is anticipated that the DOE will issue a Record of Decision close to but no sooner than 30 days after the Notice of Availability. In Montana, the MDEQ can issue its decision as soon as 15 days after this announcement.
The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of a number of route alternatives, variations to those alternatives and local routing options. The DOE and MDEQ have indicated a preferred route alternative that is a combination of MATL's proposed alternative and improvements and variations developed by the agencies with some local routing options. This alternative route is within the budget plan for the MATL line and as such is acceptable to the Company.
"We are very impressed with the careful attention to detail and the efforts undertaken by the professionals at the DOE and the MDEQ in preparing and presenting this document," said Johan van't Hof, President, Tonbridge Power, "With over 1,000 pages of analysis, the FEIS clearly illustrates their commitment to excellence and has ensured that every single issue and alternative was given careful consideration. This has resulted in a very high quality proposal that will benefit the citizens of Montana for years."
"We would also like to thank Governor Brian Schweitzer for his effort to pass the 'Clean and Green' energy tax incentives and his work to move this EIS process forward in a timely manner. Without his efforts we would not have been able to reach this point," said Mr. van't Hof.
As part of the FEIS, MATL voluntarily offered to engage in alternative dispute resolution proceedings with any directly impacted landowners in Montana who have unresolved issues and who may wish an independent mediator to assist.
Copies of the final FEIS have been mailed directly to all affected landowners and other stakeholders by regulatory officials.
Tonbridge Power is a Toronto-based developer of electrical transmission assets, whose principal asset is a 100% interest in MATL. Shares of the Company are traded on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "TBZ".