Compliance verification activity type: Field Inspection
Team:
Regulated company: Teck Cominco Metals Ltd.
Operating company: Teck Cominco Metals Ltd.
Province(s) / Territory(s):
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Rationale and scope:
Certificate EC-III-1. Pond d'Oreille River area near Trail, BC. The IPL runs 22.9 km in southern BC.
Compliance tool(s) used:
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Facility Types
Life-cycle Phases
Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:
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Observation 1 - To verify integrity of the wood pole structures those were damaged by natural causes or by hunters/intruders
Date & time of visit: 2016-08-16 08:00
Discipline: Integrity Management
Categories:
Facility:
Observations:
The main purpose of this activity was primarily to observe the NEB regulated IPL structures owned by Tek Metals those were damaged by the following natural causes:
Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used
Observation 2 - To verify integrity of the wood pole structures due to other deficiencies.
Date & time of visit: 2016-08-16 13:00
The purpose of this activity was primarily to observe minor deficiencies of the NEB regulated following IPL structures owned by Tek Metals and to understand the companies plan to repair those deficiencies:71L97: No corona ring was observed around the phase conductors.71L89: The double guy wires have slack. They need to be tightened. They were replaced in 2012 and 2015 respectively.71L80: Corona ring is placed backwards; needs to be replaced. Will be done in September 2016.71L01: The wood pole was replaced in 2007. The following deficiencies are observed:
Observation 3 - To observe and ensure if the sag is maintained to certain spans of the NEB regulated IPLs
Date & time of visit: 2016-08-17 13:00
According to the CSA22.3 No. 1-15, the maximum sag for most of the span should be 6.1m at its worst minimum height and usually occurs at the mid-span. However, that may vary depending on the land profile. The purpose of this activity is observe and ensure that sag is maintained according to the standard. In specific sites, sag was also measured using Separule 600E provided by Tek Metal/Fortis. Measurement was taken at ambients @35 degree C +. The following spans were checked:71L109 – 71L110: An intermediate structure 71L109A was erected to rectify the sag issue which was below 6.1m. The sag was measured to be 11.29 m at the shortest height @35 degree C.71L110 – 71L111: An intermediate structure 71L111A was erected to rectify the sag issue which was below 6.1m. The sag was measured to be 12.24m at its shortest height @34 degree C.71L85: The original pole was replaced with a taller wood pole and it was placed further away to raise the conductor at the worst case. No sag was measured as the visuals indicated that the conductor height is higher than 71L111A.71L43 – 71L44: The span is 217.4m. The original sag was 4.1m. It has been corrected above 6.1m by raising the structures.71L52 – 71L53: Sag measured midspan to be 7.58m @33 degree C71L62 – 71L63: There was a clearance issue that the company identified earlier. The structures were raised to increase the height above 6.1m71L74 – 71L75: The span is 181.4m. The original sag was 5.59m at the worst case. The structures were raised to increase the clearance. The sag was measured to be 6.23m
Observation 4 - To verify that critical accessories inside the substation controlling the NEB regulated IPLs are maintained
Date & time of visit: 2016-08-17 09:00
The following accessories that are critical for safe and reliable operation of the IPLs were observed:Batteries: The station batteries provide power to the protective relays. The followings are observed:
Observation 5 - Environmental protection - wildlife habitat
Date & time of visit: 2016-08-16 12:00
Discipline: Environmental Protection
- the Pend d'Oreille Valley contains a high concentration of species listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act; notable species include: Yellow-breasted chat and identified critical habitat for the species; Lewis' Woodpecker; Common Nighthawk; Western Racer; Rubber Boa; and Western Skink - Teck staff demonstrated awareness of potential presence of all six species within its operations area; observed specific protection measures including restricted access (fenced and locked gate), no grazing, and reduced brushing within Yellow-breasted chat critical habitat land- portions of the powerline are present within provincially-designated wildlife habitat area for Lewis' Woodpecker; Teck staff demonstrated awareness of the designated area and presence of nesting trees in the area- evidence of avian cavity nesting sites, attributed to woodpecker species, was observed on structures 117L115 and 117L49- observed two examples of cavity repair methods used to protect the integrity of the structure - Teck said that nests were assessed before making repairs and that repairs to active nests are deferred until a later date- avian protection devices were not observed on conductors during the inspection; given the mountainous terrain, lack of wetlands,waterfowl species and migration flyways, the installation of avian protection devices are not required in the project area.
Observation 6 - Environmental protection - surface reclamation
- reclamation of surface disturbances related to 2015 structure replacements observed at several locations (117L93, 117L109A, 117L85, 117L80)- no evidence of topsoil conservation at the sites; lack of topsoil due to mountainous and forested terrain; narrow layer of organic forest soil only- discussed options to salvage some topsoil/organic layer during future structure replacement work- the areas were seeded using a certified rangeland mix that was applied with a hydro-seeder; hydro-seeding matrix material was visible on soil surface- except for site 71L085, grass seedling establishment was minimal with bare soil areas present at all locations; slow vegetation establishment attributed to lack of soil moisture and climatic conditions; site 71L085 showed good vegetation establishment due to favorable soil moisture conditions- spotted knapweed and other weed species present at low to moderate densities at all reclamation sites
Observation 7 - Environmental protection - invasive species
Date & time of visit: 2016-08-16 10:00
- spotted knapweed (SKW) present at moderate to high densities at most of the sites observed during the inspection; SKW classified as provincially noxious under the BC Weed Control Act- SKW also observed at high densities on all existing anthropogenic features (road sides, trails, utility corridors, cut blocks, communities) within the surrounding area; in effect, SKW has become part of the landscape within this region of BC- given its abundance, Teck does not actively control SKW on the RoW due to level of regional infestation- other invasive plant species noted at low density on the RoW included common mullein, ox-eye daisy, toadflax species and sulfur cinquefoil- Teck said that it provides support to the local Invasive Plant Society; the society works on behalf of Teck and other industrial land users to strategically manages invasive plants within the region
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
