The Joint Review Panel for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project is an independent body, mandated by the Minister of the Environment and the National Energy Board. The Panel will assess the environmental effects of the proposed project and review the application under both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and the National Energy Board Act.

 The traditional territories of the CSTC member First Nations has seen a considerable increase in oil and gas exploration activities. One of the many effects from the mountain pine beetle infestation include the increased ability for remote sensing technologies to determine what is under the ground.