VANCOUVER — The National Energy Board says the contentious $6.8-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is in Canada's best interests, despite increased greenhouse gas emissions and threats to killer whales off British Columbia's coast. The federal regulator issued its long-awaited report on Thursday after a two-year debate that cost millions, and galvanized aboriginal and environmental protests. The board recommended Ottawa approve Kinder Morgan Canada's proposal subject to 157 conditions. "Given that there are considerable benefits nationally, regionally and locally, the board found that the benefits of the project would outweigh the residual burdens,'' Robert Steedman, the board's chief environmental officer, told a news conference. "Accordingly, the board concludes that the project is in the Canadian public interest.''

Map of the Trans Mountain pipeline and its expansion. (Photo: Kinder Morgan) Kinder Morgan wants to triple the capacity of its existing Trans Mountain pipeline, which carries diluted bitumen from oilsands near Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C., for export. The expansion would bring capacity to 890,000 barrels a day and increase tanker traffic in Burrard Inlet seven-fold. The positive recommendation has cleared a major hurdle for the project, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's cabinet set to make a final decision by the end of the year. But Kinder Morgan would have to address 157 environmental, safety and financial conditions, including holding $1.1 billion in liability coverage and detailing its plans to protect endangered species. The board said the project is the first to be required to detail plans for offsetting emissions. There was fierce opposition to the project and the process throughout the energy board's hearing, with the British Columbia government and cities of Vancouver and Burnaby opposing the expansion. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver has a case before the Federal Court that argues the process was unlawful.

A protest against the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion on Burnaby Mountain. (Photo: Darryl Dyck/CP) But the board concluded the project presents significant benefits to Canada, including increased access to diverse markets for Canadian oil, thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of long-term jobs, development opportunities for indigenous and local communities and considerable government revenues. Kinder Morgan said in a statement it was "pleased'' the board had recommended approval of the project. The board said that it considered concerns expressed by First Nations and how the project and related tanker traffic could impact indigenous interests. Should the project proceed, Kinder Morgan would be required to continue consultation with affected indigenous groups throughout the life of the project. The board's report noted that even with conditions, some impacts remain. For example, the board found that marine vessels related to Trans Mountain would further contribute to cumulative effects that are already jeopardizing the recovery of the southern resident killer whale population off B.C.'s coast. The report also said future vessel traffic would contribute to an increase in Canadian greenhouse gas emissions. While emissions from project-related vessels would encompass a small percentage of the country's overall emissions, the board concluded they would likely be "significant.''