The 30-day period to comment on Yukon Energy's $34-million proposal to install two new natural gas generators has been halted abruptly.

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) announced Wednesday that as a result of new information from Yukon Energy, it has determined the project description put out last week for public review is no longer valid.

Board chair Stephen Mills said this morning it's the first time the board has encountered these kinds of circumstances.

Had Yukon Energy been more upfront with developments as they unfolded over the last couple of weeks, the chair said, this unprecedented situation could have been avoided.

Mills said the board understands the change in plans is necessary because Yukon Energy was not able to lease a piece of railway right-of-way from the White Pass and Yukon Route railway.

But it's clear now the Crown corporation knew of the issue a couple of weeks ago, before YESAB began its 30-day public review period on Nov. 5, he said.

Mills said the assessment board has been in contact with Yukon Energy to indicate it now needs more information to clarify the information it received Tuesday regarding changes to the proposal.

He said once YESAB determines it has all the necessary information, it will send the project back out for public review.

Technically, Mills explained, there is no provision in the assessment act to stop the 30-day public review period once it has started.

There are, however, other provisions in the legislation that permit the board to assure itself the public has had enough time to review and comment on a project proposal, he said.

Mills emphasized public scrutiny of proposals before YESAB is the cornerstone of the assessment process.

So once Yukon Energy's project is deemed adequate for public review for a second time, the public will have their full 30 days, with the standard possibility of extending the period to 60 days, he said.

"We will ensure the proposal is complete, is adequate and they (the public) will have their full ability to comment,” said Mills.

"We will still have a public meeting, and we will not rob them of their ability to comment.”

Since the initial review period was launched a week ago Monday, there's already been a request to extend the public review period to 60 days instead of 30.

Mills said he understands that because Yukon Energy could not secure a lease for White Pass land next to the Whitehorse Rapids Dam facility, it has to make changes.

As a result, on Tuesday the Crown corporation submitted a new version of the project site located between the railway and Robert Service Way, he said.

Mills said the size of the site was reduced and would no longer accommodate up to five new natural gas generators, but would not be limited to three.

Other alterations include changes to the management of storm water, and the alignment of fencing, including vapour fencing which would now be closer to the road and higher, the chair explained.

He said he does not anticipate Yukon Energy will be long in supplying the requested information.

If it arrives in the next few days, as he expects, and the assessment board finds it adequate, it will re-start the 30-day review period, along with plans for a public meeting in mid-December, Mills said.

Yukon Energy spokeswoman Janet Patterson said today Yukon Energy was confident it would be entering into a 30-year lease with White Pass for 0.6 hectares of land, with an option for a 10-year extension.

When Yukon Energy still didn't have a lease a couple of weeks ago, it decided it had to change plans and press on with an adjusted project site, she said.

Patterson said the Crown corporation didn't notify the assessment board before Tuesday because it first had to understand itself what the site adjustment would mean to the project proposal.

Yukon Energy expects to have the new information requested by the assessment board within a couple of days, she said.

"We are working on it now.”

Patterson said Yukon Energy still feels confident it can complete the YESAB screening and a public hearing process before the Yukon Utilities Board in time to begin construction in May 2014.

Yukon Energy is proposing to spend $34 million to replace two old diesel generators with the two new generators powered by natural gas. It's the corporation's intent to have the generators on line by the end of next year.

In addition to provide enough room for a third generator in a couple of years, the site across from the old go-cart track will also serve as a storage facility for the liquefied natural gas Yukon Energy plans to import from Calgary.

The Crown corporation maintains that burning natural gas is much less expensive and would save Yukoners millions upon millions of dollars over the years.

The quality of air emissions from natural gas is also much better than the emissions from diesel generators, Yukon Energy insists.

There is, however, growing opposition at home and abroad regarding what some believe is the untold story about natural gas.

Taking everything into consideration, from the initial drill hole in the ground to the burner, burning natural gas is much harder on the environment than diesel, litre for litre, the arguments goes.

Local opposition is critical of Yukon Energy for moving ahead with what it insists is a $34-million plan that will do more damage than good at a time when reducing greenhouse gas emissions has never been more critical.