Compliance verification activity type: Emergency Response Exercise
Team:
Regulated company: Niagara Gas Transmission Limited
Operating company: Niagara Gas Transmission Limited
Province(s) / Territory(s):
Discipline(s):
Rationale and scope:
Discussion-based exercise to discuss the actions taken by local first responders in the City of Ottawa. Enbridge Gas staff, local first responders and community stakeholders will use their respective Emergency Plans to formulate a collective strategy that will cover the emergency response phase of a major pipeline release.
Compliance tool(s) used:
Facilities:
Facility Types
Life-cycle Phases
Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:
Observation 1 - Exercise Planning and Conduct
Date & time of visit: 2017-09-12 08:30
Discipline: Emergency Management
Categories:
Facility:
Observations:
Prior to the exercise, participants were provided with a Situation Manual which described the exercise overview, objectives, roles and responsibilities, guidelines, exercise assumptions and artificialities. The exercise was conducted in 3 modules. Each module prompted participants to discuss their agencies roles and response actions. Module 1 focused on the initial 911 call. Module 2 focused on the mobilization of the response. Module 3 focused on establishing Unified Command.After participants signed in they received a package that included the scenario and guidance questions for each module. Participants were assigned discussion tables. At the end of each module, a spokesperson was assigned to present key points of the discussions. A dedicated scribe was assigned to each table.
Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used
Observation 2 - Notification and Reporting
Date & time of visit: 2017-09-12 09:30
Module 1 focused on the initial 911 call upon detection of the release. Participants discussed how they would be notified, the type of information they would likely receive, and who they would notify. Enbridge also discussed who they would notify according to their Emergency Procedures Manual (EPM).
Enbridge stated in the initial stages that they would require more information in order to determine an incident classification level. However, based on the initial information recieved, it would be classified as a level III incident in order to get big quick, and scale down if needed.
Observation 3 - Safety
Safety mitigation measures were discussed, which included hazards and how to safely approach the scene of an ignited gas release. Enbridge advised that they would recommend 350 meter public evacuation zone. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was discussed. Ottawa Police noted that they do not have the appropriate PPE for this type of incident. Enbridge and Ottawa Fire stated that they are fully equipped and that Ottawa Police would remain in the cold zone and not require PPE.
Observation 4 - Response Management
Module 2 focused on mobilization. Each participant, including Enbridge, discussed what their response actions would be. Module 3 focused on establishing Incident Command. Enbridge demonstrated how they would integrate into Unified Command. As the scenario progressed, all participants discussed how their response structure would expand based on needs.Given that the incident was located on the Ottawa side of the Ottawa River, Gatineau Fire stated that they would receive odour complaints and 911 calls as the wind blew the gas over the river to the Quebec side. Gatineau Fire would begin exploratory checks until further notification that the incident would occurring on the other side of the river.Maps were available for reference during the exercise.The other categories listed above that have not been addressed under this section have been observed with no non-compliances.
Observation 5 - Communication
Date & time of visit: 2017-09-12 10:00
Enbridge's Public Information Officer discussed the steps they would take to issue a media release. It was agreed among participants that social media would be the quickest way to notify the public. The participants also discussed who the liaison officer would be, and who that role would coordinate with.
Observation 6 - Response Tactics
Date & time of visit: 2017-09-12 10:30
A long-term and continuing-care residence is located within the hot zone. Participants discussed the challenges in evacuating this type of a facility. Residents would require some form of assistance to physically evacuate. Ottawa Fire would evaluate the necessity to evacuate. Enbridge Gas stated that they could provide air monitoring at the residence. Shelter-in-place would be the first initial response at the residence.Enbridge stated it would:
Observation 7 - Post Exercise
Date & time of visit: 2017-09-12 12:30
Overall, the exercise was successful in achieving the exercise objectives. The objectives were reviewed by the participants and there was an overview of how they were met.A briefing was conducted after each module. A debrief was conducted at the end of the exercise. Participants agreed that this was a valuable exercise because it brought agencies together to discuss and have a better understanding of potential impacts.NEB staff's general observations were: that local First Responders were aware of the hazards associated with a pipeline release, and that all participants had good knowledge of each other's response capabilities and expectations.All documents were collected at the end of the exrecise.
Identified non-compliances to company plans or procedures are non-compliances either to:
- the condition of an authorization document that requires the implementation of that plan or procedure; or
- the relevant section of the regulations that requires implementation of that plan or procedure including those sections that require implementation of plans or procedures as a part of a Program
