The 'public' NEB Energy East pipeline panel: What you need to know

The National Energy Boardhearings thatstartedin Saint John Mondayaren't the only opportunity for the public to voice its views on the Energy East pipeline.

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• Justin Trudeau refuses outright support for Energy East pipeline

Earlier this year, the federal government announced it would appoint board members to an additional panel to helpexpand public input onthe pipelineproject.

The creation of the separatepanel is part of Ottawa's focus onoverhauling the NEB's regulatory regime.

Here's what you need to know about the panel:

What will the panel be doing?

Up to four panel members will be visiting communities along the pipeline route to hear people's views on Energy East,according toMarcDrolet, communications officer for the NEB.

These consultations will be separate from thecurrent NEB hearings.

It hasn't beendetermined yet where the panel will be visitingor whether the public sessionswill be town hall-style or more formally structured.

Droletsaid the NEBiswaiting for input from the board members on the format.Unlike the ongoing NEB hearings, the panel would be open to the general public instead of a set number of interveners.

When are the board members being appointed?

The four board members will be appointed in thefall, according to Natural Resources Canada.

The New Brunswick government would like to see people from the province on the panel.

"It would be great if we had somebody from New Brunswick,"said RickDoucet,minister of energy and resource development.

"As a matter of fact it would be great to have a few people from New Brunswick ... because this is the point where the pipeline is going to end."

When will the panel wrap up?

The panel will submit a report to the threemember boardcarrying out the NEB hearingson April 25, 2017.

"Board Members carrying out the engagement activities will report to the Hearing Panel on what they have heard,"according to the NEB'swebsite.

"This will be an opportunity to engage in a productive debate about whether the project is in the Canadian public interest."

The public engagement sessions should wrap up a few weeks beforethe report is due in April, according toDrolet.