Bush administration wants 2003 decisions on Arctic gas pipelines

Gary Park, PNA Canadian correspondent

The Bush administration is eager to remove any regulatory obstacles to the delivery of natural gas from the Arctic to the Lower 48, says Paul Cellucci, U.S. Ambassador to Canada.

In a series of year-end interviews with Canadian TV and newspapers, he said President George W. Bush believes the U.S. Congress will approve a comprehensive energy bill early in 2003 that is vital to keeping the U.S. economy growing.

It will rely heavily on energy supplies from Canada and Mexico, partners in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

In particular, he said, Canada looms large, offering such major energy sources as the Arctic, the Alberta oil sands, East Coast offshore oil and gas and hydroelectric projects in Manitoba, Quebec and Newfoundland.

If the United States is unable to gain access to those supplies, the Canadian economy also stands to suffer, Cellucci said.

Once an energy bill is in place, a key element will be the selection of a pipeline route for Arctic gas — either along the Alaska Highway right of way or a link to a Mackenzie Valley pipeline — and a fast-track approval process, he said.

The United States wants to resolve pipeline issues to expedite approvals in both countries “so that we can build the necessary infrastructure,” Cellucci said.

He said that depends on cooperation from Canada to improve the functioning of a growing North American energy market.