What’s described as a “real eye-opener” for the Energy East Pipeline proposal is taking place tonight (Thursday) at Nipissing University.

The proposed pipeline would travel right through the North Bay area.

While proponents point to economic benefits and jobs, local opposition to the project centres around keeping the area’s drinking water safe.

Marc Tessier is one of the organizers of tonight’s presentation, from Dr Alan Hepburn, a retired nuclear safety engineer on the study of past breaches in the pipeline.

Tessier says, “We get bombarded by one side, their point of view of the project, but there is another side of the project and that’s the frequent ruptures and explosions that happened in that line since 1995, there’s been 8 major explosions and ruptures since 1995.”

Tonight’s public forum goes at 7 pm at Nipissing University (Room H104).

Officials say the event offers insights about potential spills, clean up, and leak detection in the proposed pipeline from an independent, highly experienced safety engineer.

Stop Energy East North Bay in collaboration with The Canada Research Chair in Environmental Histories and Geographies, and the Masters of Environmental Studies/Sciences Program, Nipissing University, is hosting the event.

Meantime, TransCanada says Energy East will use an existing pipeline, which runs several kilometres north and east of Trout Lake, until it approaches the Mattawa River.

The line crosses the Mattawa River at the Narrows, a couple of kilometres downstream of Trout Lake.

They say it will “not travel beneath Trout Lake.”

In an email, officials also say as far as TransCanada’s safety record is concerned, they’re industry leaders.

“TransCanada spent $1 billion on safety and integrity on pipelines last year, with the aim of ensuring zero incidents. We employ a multi-layered safety approach which includes 24/7 monitoring of pipeline activity, and the ability to remotely activate the shut-down of the line immediately if a problem occurs. We also make sure to prepare no matter how unlikely an accident is to happen, by having concerted response plans with local first responders to ensure we would be able to act very quickly and minimize any impacts.”

They also say pipelines are the safest way to transport oil, much safer than trains, and would help reduce the amount of oil tanker traffic on the tracks in communities such as North Bay.