Compliance verification activity type: Field Inspection
Team:
Regulated company: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.
Operating company: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.
Province(s) / Territory(s):
Discipline(s):
Rationale and scope:
Environmental Inspection of NGTL's Smoky River Lateral Loop construction project. Focus of the inspection was to verify implementation of the Environmental Protection Plan and conditions of Order XG-N081-034-2018. The Project is located approximately 105 km south of Grande Prairie, Alberta, and consists of approximately 28.4 km of 610mm (nominal pipe size [NPS] 24) outside diameter (OD) pipe, interconnecting valve sites and in-line inspection (ILI) facilities. The inspection was conducted at the time of construction, and focused on the RoW. The Project will consist of two (2) pipeline sections: the Shady Oak Section and the Little Smoky Section totaling 28.4 km. The pipeline parallels existing disturbances for 85% of the route. The first approximately 12.2 km of the Project length is located within the Little Smoky Caribou Range.The Project is located entirely on Crown land within the Province of Alberta . The inspection was conducted during the winter construction period, and the RoW was snow-covered at the time of inspection. Backfill, tie-in and wetland ramp removal activities were observed, and reclaimed watercourse crossings (watercourses 1-4) and watercourse crossing preparation (watercourses 5-10) were observed.
Compliance tool(s) used:
Facilities:
Facility Types
Life-cycle Phases
Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:
Regulatory instrument number(s):
Additional Project-specific requirements or conditions:
Observation 1 - Information Request sent by OPM re: Working in the RAP
Date & time of visit: 2019-02-08 15:00
Discipline: Environmental Protection
Categories:
Facility:
Observations:
NGTL sumitted, on 1 Feb 2019 that it would be working into the Restricted Activity Period for caribou of 15 Feb through 15 Jul due to weather-related delays to the project.On 8 Feb 2019, the NEB Operations Project Manager (OPM) sent an IR to NGTL regarding work during the RAP. A response was due and provided on 13 Feb 2019On 11 Feb 2019 The NEB Inspector contacted Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), and Alberta Environment and Parks to gather their views on NGTL's plan to continue work into the RAP. A response was received by ECCC representative, and shared with the OPM and Environmental Specialist (RDIMS 1152459)
Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used
Observation 2 - Watercourse Crossings
Date & time of visit: 2019-02-20 11:45
Watercourses observed included watercourse (WC) numbers 1 through 10. Note that WC 1, 5, and 9 are historically and/or presently fish-bearing.Watercourse construction was complete (pipe installed, reclamation) at watercourses 1-4, and had not yet taken place at watercourses 5-10 (crossing preparation was underway).
Observation 3 - Wetlands
Observation 4 - KP 25+696 Mineral Lick
Date & time of visit: 2019-02-21 14:10
Observation 5 - General right-of-way
Date & time of visit: 2019-02-20 11:10
KP 7+400:
Observation 6 - Documentation Review
Date & time of visit: 2019-02-21 09:00
Beaver Dam Removal - reviewed damage control authorization. Bear Den Sweep Report - results indicated that there are no active bear dens on the project. TransCanada representative stated that ground-truthing was done in higher likelihood areas.Working during Caribou Restricted Activity Period Approval - approved on 14 February 2019 by the province.TransCanada Environmental Orientation - reviewed and appeared to be adequate.
Observation 7 - Excessive Vehicle Idling
Date & time of visit: 2019-02-21 10:30
A vacant pickup truck was idling in the TransCanada construction yard for at least one hour.
Compliance tool used: Corrected Non-compliance (CNC)
Regulatory requirement:
Relevant section(s):
Company action required:
TransCanada will ensure idling is reduced, where possible by ensuring this requirement is communicated to project staff.
Due date: 2019-02-21
Date closed: 2019-02-21 Note: the date closed is the date that the inspector completed their review of the company corrective actions for adequacy and determined that no further actions are required.
Reason closed: Requirement met
Compliance achieved: Yes
There are no observations with outstanding follow-up
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
Observation 8 - Information caviardée conformément au paragraphe 144(5) du Code canadien du travail
This information has been redacted pursuant to Section 144(5) of the Canada Labour Code
