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:
NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. (NGTL) filed its regulatory application for the 2017 NGTL System Expansion Project (Project) on 31 March 2015. NGTL proposed to construct and operate new gas pipeline facilities in northern Alberta as part of its existing NGTL System. The expansion would include five new and separate pipeline section loops, totaling 230 kilometres, and the addition of two compression facilities. This inspection should focus on environmental protection of the Boundary Lake and Bear Canyon sections.
Compliance tool(s) used:
Facilities:
Facility Types
Life-cycle Phases
Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:
Regulatory instrument number(s):
Observation 1 - Boundary Lake Section - Laydown Yard at KP 29
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 09:50
Discipline: Environmental Protection
Categories:
Facility:
Observations:
Spot checks of heavy equipment in this area revealed appropriate spill kits and TCPL labels indicating equipment was inspected and clean on arrival to project.Adequate housekeeping and appropriate product storage at this location.
Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used
Observation 2 - Boundary Lake Section - Watercourse Crossing #11 - KP 29+300
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 10:30
Observed crew preparing for excavation of trenchline adjacent to the watercourse at time of inspection. Company personnel indicated this watercourse was found to be frozen to the bottom.Snow bridge in place and constructed with curbing to prevent material on bridge from entering watercourse.Duff pile segregated and marked along edge of RoW. Snow fence was installed around spoil pile to contain any loose material during thaw."No refueling" signage observed in area.No concerns noted.
Observation 3 - Boundary Lake Section - Tie-in Crew at KP 29+850
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 10:45
Discipline: Safety Management
Observed appropriate egress for workers in bell hole and safe work practices being followed, including proper PPE.Observed appropriate fencing around excavation.No concerns noted.
Observation 4 - Boundary Lake Section - Coating and Jeeping at KP 29+850
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 11:00
Proper PPE worn by crew at this location, coating products noted with proper labelling.No concerns noted.
Observation 5 - Boundary Lake Section - Watercourse Crossing #12 at KP 32+606
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 11:15
10m buffers were left in place on both sides of the watercourse.Snowbridge crossing constructed."No refuelling" signage observed in this area.No concerns noted.
Observation 6 - Boundary Lake Section - Ditching at KP 32+900
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 11:30
Observed wheel ditcher making steady progress at this location with dozer ripping the ditch line ahead of trenching activity.Duff and spoil observed to be segregated.No concerns noted.
Observation 7 - Boundary Lake Section - Wildlife breaks KP 34 to KP 35
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 12:05
Wildlife breaks observed in grading/soil piles.No concerns noted.
Observation 8 - Boundary Lake Section - Watercourse #13 and Rare plant Site at KP 34+000
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 12:25
Rare plant (River Thyme) site was slighty off of the project RoW and in the RoW of an existing NGTL line. The rare plant location was marked with signage and flagging.Observed steep side cuts to grade RoW near watercourse with snow fencing in place to contain any loose material that may settle with thawing."No-refueling" signage observed.10m buffer left in place on both side of the watercourse.No concerns noted.
Observation 9 - Boundary Lake Section - Lay Down Yard at KP37
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 12:49
Secondary containment observed beneath fuel storage tanks.Propane tanks secured.Appropriate house keeping observed at this location.No concerns noted.
Observation 10 - Boundary Lake Section - Main Gang Welding at KP 41+500
Date & time of visit: 2017-02-28 13:30
Automatic Welding observed at this location.A worker was observed grinding with face shield up. The NGTL inspector notified the worker and the situation was corrected immediately.
Compliance tool used: Corrected Non-compliance (CNC)
Regulatory requirement:
Relevant section(s):
Company action required:
NGTL inspector reminded the worker to lower his faceshield when grinding.
Due date: 2017-02-28
Date closed: 2017-02-28 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
Observation 11 - Boundary Lake Section - Watercourse Crossing #11 at KP 29+300
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-01 10:00
Crossing preparation ongoing with excavation in progress at time of inspection. Company personnel indicated watercourse is frozen to bottom, and isolation is not required.Light plant onsite observed with built in secondary containment.
Observation 12 - Boundary Lake Section - Watercourse Crossing #11 at KP 29+300 - Expired Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher on a portable light generator tower was observed with an expired inspection tag.
The fire extinguisher should be inspected and tagged appropriately as soon as practicable.
Due date: 2017-03-01
Date closed: 2017-03-03 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.
Observation 13 - Boundary Lake Section - Grading and slash burning at KP 29
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-01 10:30
Observed grading activity in this area at time of inspection.Slash was being burned in two location around KP29, both fires were being managed and were conducted on subsoil within stripped area of RoW.No concerns noted.
Observation 14 - Boundary Lake Section - Watercourse #8
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-01 11:00
Grading ongoing at this location.Temporary bridge was installed to facilitate the building of ice/snow bridge. Removal of this temporary bridge was underway at time of inspection. Company personnel indicated that the silt fence observed on the snow bridge was being removed as it had previously been installed during a spell of warm weather but was no longer required with the colder temperatures.10m riparian buffer in place and respected. Company personnel indicated that hand clearing occured near the snow bridge to allow for heavy equipment to cross without issues."No refuelling" signs observed.No concerns noted.
Observation 15 - Boundary Lake Section - Bore under hotline at KP 2+300
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-01 12:15
Bore beneath hotline underway at this location at time of inspection.Light plants observed with integrated secondary containment.Fire extinguishers observed with updated inspection tags.Bell hole observed with appropriate egress.Propane tanks secured atop the excavation.Housekeeping adequate at this location.
Observation 16 - Boundary Lake Section - Bore under hotline at KP 2+300 - Unsecured Load
2 portable propane tanks were not secured properly within trucks. NGTL followed up with crew to ensure ratchet straps are used to secure tanks prior to leaving site and driving on public roads.
Ensure all loads are secured and remind drivers about appropriate practices for load security regarding propane tanks.
Observation 17 - Boundary Lake Section - Kick off, Valve site
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-01 12:45
Backfill activities were underway at this location during the time of the inspection.A backhoe had a hydraulic hose leak, and crews had responded with absorbant pads deployed to contain leaked fluid.Site observed to be generally tidy with adequate housekeeping.
Observation 18 - Boundary Lake Section - Kick off, Valve site - Improper PPE during coating
A worker was observed without respiratory protection while another was wearing a half mask and both were working with the same coating product. NEB inspectors followed up with the coating inspector to determine appropriate PPE for the job. After requesting and reviewing the MSDS for the product, NEB inspectors noted that respiratory protection may be required. Upon further investigation it was discovered that the contractor's policy requires that respiratory protection be worn for this product.
Remind workers to follow MSDS recommendation and to follow PPE policy when unsure.
Due date: 2017-03-03
Observation 19 - Bear Canyon Section - Ksituan River Crossing at KP 0+100
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 10:20
Lowering in of crossing pipe section underway at time of inspection.Dam and pump system in place at this crossing. Water line on main isolation pump observed to be frozen solid at time of inspection with only the backup line and pump fit for service.
NGTL shall replace the frozen bypass system to ensure a backup unit is available.
Due date: 2017-03-02
Date closed: 2017-03-02 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.
Observation 20 - Bear Canyon Section - Ksituan River Crossing at KP 0+100
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 10:31
Worker observed stepping on the suspended pipe while guiding lowering in operations at the Ksituan River crossing.
Take immediate action to stop the unsafe behaviour.
Observation 21 - Bear Canyon Section - Ksituan River crossing- Food waste on RoW
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 10:35
Food waste (banana peel) was observed on the RoW within secondary containment of light generator tower on North side of Ksituan River crossing.
Remove the food waste for appropriate disposal and remind crews that food waste must be disposed of appropriately.
Observation 22 - Bear Canyon Section - Rare Plant Site at KP 0+800
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 10:40
Rare Plant Site RV-001 observed. Company personnel indicated that the log on which the rare species of lichen was growing was transported off RoW and situated in a similar cover/light condition.
Observation 23 - Bear Canyon Section - Hwy 49 and wetland / creek crossing at KP 4+800
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 11:00
Site clean and tidy with adequate housekeeping.Minimal disturbance to the wetland observed.Company personnel indicated turbidity monitoring was underway at this crossing.Spot checks revealed built in secondary containment on light generator towers in this area.No concerns noted.
Observation 24 - Bear Canyon Section - Rare plant at KP 10+100
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 12:00
Rare Plant Site (Western Grape Fern) was observed at this location. Company personnel indicated that topsoil layer at this rare plant location on ditchline was stripped, segregated, marked and protected with snow fencing which is consistent with observations at time of inspection. Company personnel indicated the salvaged material would be replaced at the same location during cleanup.No concerns noted.
Observation 25 - Bear Canyon Section - Weed cleaning station at KP 12+500
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 13:00
Weed cleaning station was installed at this location and maintained.NEB inspectors observed it being used by the contractor as vehicles entered the RoW in this area.No concerns noted.
Observation 26 - Bear Canyon Section - Road Bore at KP 13+339
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 13:14
Observed road bore at this location being conducted with cable and winch off of stationary Cat.Site tidy with adequate housekeeping.No concerns noted.
Observation 27 - Bear Canyon Section - Shrubby Fen KP17+010 to KP 18+210
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 13:30
Rig matting installed throughout this section of the RoW.Signage for wetland mitigation installed and visible.No concerns noted.
Observation 28 - Bear Canyon Section - Hamelin Creek Crossing at KP 17+220
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 13:45
RoW located within the 800m buffer for Trumpeter Swan habitat in this area. No specific mitigation for this species applicable at time of inspection as the restricted activity period is April 1st to July 15th.Snow bridge crossing in place and appropriately constructed.Crew working frost into ground at time of inspection.No concerns noted.
Observation 29 - Bear Canyon Section - Valve site at KP 26+280
Date & time of visit: 2017-03-02 15:00
Top soil appropriately separated from spoil pile with geotextile.No concerns noted.
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