newsminer.com

TransCanada might be a little optimistic with its timeline, but is probably ahead of anyone else on pipeline permitting issues, legal experts working for the Legislature and administration testified Sunday.

Keith Bergner, the legislative expert, said permitting the pipeline project will be difficult for any prospective builder. But he added that authorizations already held by TransCanada “arguably give it a few steps down the path.”

Loyola Keough, the administration’s expert, said his firm’s analysis showed that permitting would likely take seven years rather than the five and a half TransCanada assumed in its application.

The firm identified a number of things could cause TransCanada’s timeline to slip, he said. “[But] we certainly did not see any showstoppers.”

Keough echoed the idea that TransCanada had certain assets that set it ahead of other prospective builders.

Revenue Commissioner Pat Galvin said Keough’s conclusions regarding TransCanada’s timeline were factored into its analysis of the project.