Compliance Verification Activity Report: CV2122-196 - NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.

Overview

Compliance verification activity type: Field Inspection

Team:

• Inspector 2541
• Inspector 1897

Regulated company: NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd.

Operating company: TransCanada PipeLines Limited

Province(s) / Territory(s):

• Alberta

Discipline(s):

• Environmental Protection
• Indigenous Monitoring

Related events:

• CV2223-181

Rationale and scope:

Environmental inspection of the NGTL 2021 System Expansion: Grande Prairie South Section (Karr and Deep Valley North) construction and installation of NPS 48 pipeline. Focus on implementation of mitigation measures committed to in the EPP and associated specific contingency plans. 

Compliance tool(s) used:

• None

Facility details

Facilities:

• GRANDE PRAIRIE MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (KARR SECTION)
• GRANDE PRAIRIE MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (DEEP VALLEY SECTION)

Facility Types

• Pipeline
• Pipeline
• Pipeline right of way (ROW)

Life-cycle Phases

• Construction

Regulatory requirements

Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:

• Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CERA)
• Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CERA)
• National Energy Board Act (NEBA)
• Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR)
• Plans And Procedures
• Project-specific Environmental Protection Plan (EPP)
• EPP for Karr section, and EPP for Deep Valley section

Regulatory instrument number(s):

• GC-129

Observations (no outstanding follow-up required)

Observation 1 - Karr Section - General

Date & time of visit: 2022-03-08 11:30

Discipline: Environmental Protection

Categories:

• Soils and Soil Productivity
• Erosion
• Soil Handling
• Surface Water Management
• Containment and Drainage Structures
• Wildlife
• Destruction/Loss of Habitat
• Disturbance
• Species of Concern
• Vegetation
• Invasive Plant Management
• Air Quality
• Emissions Control/Monitoring
• Housekeeping
• Waste Management

Facility:

• GRANDE PRAIRIE MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (KARR SECTION) (Pipeline)

Observations:

• Historical and environmentally sensitive features were identified with appropriate flagging and signage.
• RoW boundaries flagged and no soil or project worker trespass evident.
• Topsoil piles staked with weed identification.
• Erosion and sediment control (ESC) mitigation installed where required and appears to be functioning as intended. 
• No vegatation or topsoil stripping/grading was evident at log deck sites.
• Housekeeping was in good order (i.e. construction debris and garbage picked up and disposed of).
• Project personnel were wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

Karr Camp

• Soap was missing from a portable toilet. NGTL re-stocked the soap immediately after this was identified.
• Previous Safety inspection identified an area on the SW side of the camp perimeter where sediment fencing was inadequate, and then subsequently fixed.
• Currently there is deep snow throughout the area. The sediment fencing was still in place. Company representatives stated that the area was also graded to help with water flows.

P 5+400 Salt Lick

• Salt lick located off the Right-of-Way (RoW). The location is approximately 100+ metres away. IOs could not directly observe due to deep snow in the area.

KP 26+350 to 28+500

• Two moose spotted crossing the RoW near soil piles.
• Stopped at a marked (signage in place) salt lick and walked approximately 100 meters off the RoW to a known salt lick location. Deep snow all throughout the area.
• Consistent wildlife crossing gaps were observed in soil pile windrows in the area.
• RoW boundaries appear to be respected (i.e. no evidence of soil or worker trespass observed).
• Pipe has been placed in ground, and trench has been crowned. NGTL stated that rough cleanup crew will be coming through the area shortly (before spring breakup).
• Wetland signage in place in several areas along the RoW.

KP 32

• Backfilling and trench crowning activities were currently underway.
• Several generators were present, all with secondary containment in place.
• At time of inspection the ditch was covered and being heated to melt all of the ice and to allow the crew to pump out water from underneath the pipe.
• Discharge point of the dewatering activity was checked and the end of the hose was in a filter bag in a well vegetated area with deep snow.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 2 - Karr Section - Watercourse Crossings

Date & time of visit: 2022-03-08 09:00

Discipline: Environmental Protection

Categories:

• Surface Water Management
• Containment and Drainage Structures
• Water Bodies - Non-Fish-bearing
• Chemical Spills/Releases
• Sedimentation/Turbidity
• Erosion
• Temporary Access Structures
• Water Bodies - Fish-bearing
• Sedimentation/Turbidity
• Destruction/Loss of Habitat
• Chemical Spills/Releases
• Erosion
• Temporary Access Structures
• Housekeeping
• Waste Management

Facility:

• GRANDE PRAIRIE MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (KARR SECTION) (Pipeline)

Observations:

KP 5+577 Latornell River

• This area of the construction work parallels an existing third party pipeline RoW.
• The RoW was recently backfilled, and trench was crowned.
• "Key Wildlife Biodiversity Zone" signage installed.
• The area around the creek was being set up for rollback of materials (i.e. soils and wood).
• Crib walls with cable ties, rock rip rap, coir wraps, and willow stakes are all in place around the creek channel and into the riparian zone. NGTL stated that rock rip rap was visually inspected before onsite use.
• Woody rollback was scattered on the east side of the creek channel on the slope to aid in erosion control. Additionally, ESC measures such as sediment fencing, berms, and ditch plugs were observed on the banks.
• Watercourse crossing signage in place.
• Soil piles labelled including "USM" (upper surface material).

KP 7+600 Unnamed Tributary to Latornell River

• Reclamation has started - coir wraps, wooden logs for stability, and willow cuttings installed.
• Temporary bridge in place across the tributary. NGTL stated that the bridge will be removed after upcoming pressure testing.
• Watercourse crossing signage in place.
• Onsite heater tank is double-walled (internal secondary containment).
• Potential near-miss at the end of the bridge, it appears a truck hit the geotextile fence recently. This was further discussed during the closing meeting.

KP 19+023 Smuland Creek

• A sub-contractor was conducting fish salvage operations. They mentioned that 60+ fish were caught and relocated. Water quality monitoring had recently been conducted.
• 6 inch hose bypass currently running water around isolation area. Two 3 inch hoses in place as a backup. Pump has small diameter mesh fish protection screen in place. 
• Diffuser setup at end of the bypass hose, no erosion or creek bed scouring was evident.
• Creek isolated with metal plates.
• Temporary ice/snowfill bridge in place with 30+ cm side curbs. Snowfill/ice was clean.
• Watercourse crossing signage in place.
• A generator and small jerry can were located inside secondary containment. Light stands onsite have internal secondary containment.
• Spill kit in place and was checked to ensure adequate and appropriate contents. No concerns.

KP 20+781 Patterson Creek (south approach)

• Final cleanup completed.
• Several animal tracks through the deep snow were observed in this area.
• The creek slopes had a significant amount of engineering work conducted including berms and sub drains directed into the vegetated edges of the RoW. NGTL representatives stated that ditch plugs were installed along both slopes. NGTL provided a drone photo of the site without snow present to demonstrate all of the installed erosion control measures installed at this site.
• Creek banks have engineered crib wall in place with matting installed.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 3 - Deep Valley North - General

Date & time of visit: 2022-03-02 10:15

Discipline: Environmental Protection

Categories:

• Soils and Soil Productivity
• Erosion
• Soil Handling
• Surface Water Management
• Containment and Drainage Structures
• Wildlife
• Destruction/Loss of Habitat
• Disturbance
• Species of Concern
• Vegetation
• Invasive Plant Management
• Air Quality
• Emissions Control/Monitoring
• Housekeeping
• Waste Management

Facility:

• GRANDE PRAIRIE MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (DEEP VALLEY SECTION) (Pipeline)

Observations:

• Historical and environmentally sensitive features were identified with appropriate flagging and signage.
• RoW boundaries flagged and no soil or project worker trespass evident.
• Topsoil piles staked with weed identification.
• Erosion and sediment control (ESC) mitigation installed where required and appears to be functioning as intended. 
• No vegetation or topsoil stripping/grading was evident at log deck sites.
• Housekeeping was in good order (i.e. construction debris and garbage picked up and disposed of).
• Project personnel were wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.

P 39+500 and area

• Regular gaps left in the soil piles for wildlife travel.
• Appropriate signage installed along RoW detailing where all wetlands start and end.
• Fencing was observed around all open excavations.
• Wetlands appeared to have geotextile in place where required.
• Parked equipment along the RoW had drip trays in place under them.

KP 31+600

• Refueling site for hydrotesting as line fill with water was taking place at the time of the inspection.
• Drove approximately 12km of the RoW south of the Michael’s construction yard. No issues or concerns identified.
• Regular gaps observed among the soil piles.
• Appropriate signage installed along RoW detailing where all wetlands start and end.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 4 - Deep Valley North - Watercourse Crossings

Date & time of visit: 2022-03-02 10:15

Discipline: Environmental Protection

Categories:

• Surface Water Management
• Containment and Drainage Structures
• Water Bodies - Non-Fish-bearing
• Chemical Spills/Releases
• Sedimentation/Turbidity
• Erosion
• Temporary Access Structures
• Water Bodies - Fish-bearing
• Sedimentation/Turbidity
• Destruction/Loss of Habitat
• Chemical Spills/Releases
• Erosion
• Temporary Access Structures
• Housekeeping
• Waste Management

Facility:

• GRANDE PRAIRIE MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (DEEP VALLEY SECTION) (Pipeline)

Observations:

KP 34+364 Moon Creek

• This segment of the RoW parallels two existing NGTL pipelines.
• Secondary containment of equipment was evident around the site, including drip trays where required.
• Project personnel mentioned that approximately 37 fish were caught in the creek isolation area.
• Discharge end of hose for the isolation is utilizing both a filter bag and sheets of plywood to diffuse the water velocity entering back into the creek. No evidence of erosion or scour observed.
• Contractor anticipates that the isolation equipment will be removed by the end of the week.
• Beaver dams are located both up and downstream of the construction site. In late December local trappers attempted to trap beavers in the area but were not successful.
• Willow stakes are in place as part of creek bank restoration.
• Temporary travel bridge included plywood sides installed along with geotextile to prevent sediment from entering the watercourse.

KP 54 Shell Creek

• Concrete coated pipe to be installed for this creek crossing.
• Workers were currently in the process of installing the isolation equipment for this crossing.
• Project personnel discussed that a fish salvage is to be done within 24hrs of the isolation being installed to ensure that all fish are removed before the watercourse freezes to the bottom.
• No travel bridge in place for this site. Project personnel discussed the construction plan for this site: isolate the site, install geotextile material and then push the spoil over the geotextile and drive the side booms over the spoil to maneuver this section of  heavy pipe into place. Then the spoil would be removed along with the geotextile material, and the watercourse is reinstated.
• Spill kit on site was checked and it was found to contain the appropriate materials.
• Project personnel discussed the water pumping set-up to push the creek water around the site. The water enters a header system with approximately 12 hose connection points and goes from a pipe with the diameter of approximately 20 inches down to a pipe with a diameter of 8 inches to create enough water pressure to move the water upslope and around the crossing site.

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observation 5 - Indigenous Monitor Observation - [Sucker Creek First Nation]

Date & time of visit: 2022-03-23 10:55

Discipline: Indigenous Monitoring

Categories:

• General
• General

Facility:

Observations:

Jacqueline Calliou IMAC - SCFN Services – IM

Compliance tool used: No compliance tool used

Observations (company follow-up required)

Identified non-compliances to company plans or procedures are non-compliances either to: