Compliance verification activity type: Field Inspection
Team:
Regulated company: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.
Operating company: TransCanada PipeLines Limited
Province(s) / Territory(s):
Discipline(s):
Related events:
Rationale and scope:
Inspection of NGTL's 2021 Expansion Project, the construction of 350 km of 1,219 mm (NPS 48) outside diameter (OD) pipe. This inspection is limited to early works on the Elmworth and Valhalla spreads and focuses on various construction locations between Grande Prairie and Calgary, AB. Inspection will Assess compliance with the project specific Environmental Protection Plan and the OPR (Environmental Management Program).
Compliance tool(s) used:
Facilities:
Facility Types
Life-cycle Phases
Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:
Regulatory instrument number(s):
Observation 1 - General, Elmworth
Date & time of visit: 2021-02-23 15:35
Discipline: Environmental Protection
Categories:
Facility:
Observations:
Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used
Observation 2 - General, Valhalla
Date & time of visit: 2021-02-25 10:45
Observation 3 - Construction Yard
Date & time of visit: 2021-02-24 14:25
Observation 4 - Indigenous Monitor Observation
Date & time of visit: 2021-02-25 13:00
Discipline: Indigenous Monitoring
Tuesday, Feb. 23/2021Attend Audio Conference with CER and TC Energy Personnel @ 6:30 am, Safety Meeting with Day’s Activity meeting, combined. Meet with TC Energy Personnel, assigned to be our “guides” on this Inspection, 4 in total, at the Midwest Construction Yard, in Grande Prairie. Orientation meeting was done and Covid19 Declaration Protocol sheets were signed. Travel to “Take Off” site, on the “Elmworth Spread”, on the pipeline Right of Way (see Photo #1). Sign on to site FLHA, at Foreman’s request.Observations
Observation 5 - Information Request (IR) #1 Weed control and biosecurity
The Inspection Team inquired about weed-control measures and equipment cleaning stations. Company representatives indicated that the cleaning stations are not permanent, but are locations where cleaning occurs as required, for topsoil handling equipment in agricultural areas. Company representatives also indicated that equipment being used in the Municipal District of Greenview would be cleaned before being used in Grande Prairie County, due to potential clubroot concerns. Such equipment would be cleaned mechanically, and then a bleach solution applied to tracks. The Company indicated that this bleach cleaning was required only for topsoil handling equipment, and was not applied to equipment that does not handle topsoil, to trucks, all-terrain vehicles, or the boots of people moving from one municipal area to another, except at landowner request. However, the EPP specifically includes mats in the list of equipment to be sanitized. Omitting trucks, ATVs and boots from the requirement appears inconsistent.
Compliance tool used: Information Request (IR)
Regulatory requirement:
Relevant section(s):
Company action required:
Question 1.1The Company is required to provide information that shows the risk assessment that was conducted to determine the level of cleaning required, and the vigilance required to maintain biosecurity when equipment, vehicles and other materials move from one municipality to the other. This should include an assessment of:
Question 1.2The Company is to provide cleaning records for the following equipment:
Due date: 2021-03-12
Date closed: 2021-03-18 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 6 - IR #2 Sediment Fencing at Beaverlodge River Crossing
The sediment fence in the northwest corner of the access bridge over the Beaverlodge River appeared to be under strain from material behind it. The Inspection Team requested the deficiency list for more information. The strained sediment fencing had been added to the deficiency list provided on 26 February, but no documentation to indicate if and when it would be addressed was provided.
The Company is to provide:
Observation 7 - Corrected Non Compliance (CNC) #1 Portable Toilets
Date & time of visit: 2021-02-23 15:00
Discipline: Safety Management
At the Elmworth section, the inspection team noted that along the Right of Way, there were portable toilet facilities at KP 9+500, and that crews were working between that point and approximately KP16, with no access to other toilet facilities. There was not hand-cleaner available in four of the five portable toilets visited on the Elmworth section. At the Valhalla section, the only toilet facilities were at KP2+700, although there were workers at KP4+450 (completing burning and in the process of demobilizing) and further along the right of way with access at KP13+700. No issues noted with respect to hand sanitizer in the facilities on the Valhalla section.
Compliance tool used: Corrected Non-compliance (CNC)
The Company is required to provide sufficient bathroom facilities at locations where there are workers, or within easy access of workers.
Due date: 2021-02-26
Date closed: 2021-02-26 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 8 - CNC #2 Spills in Construction Yard
The Company is to provide evidence that the spills near the waste oil tank have been cleaned.
Due date: 2021-03-05
Date closed: 2021-03-01 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.
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