Compliance Verification Activity Report: CV2223-225 - Foothills Pipe Lines (South B.C.) Ltd.

Overview

Compliance verification activity type: Field Inspection

Team:

• Inspector 2864

Regulated company: Foothills Pipe Lines (South B.C.) Ltd.

Operating company: Foothills Pipe Lines (South B.C.) Ltd.

Province(s) / Territory(s):

• British Columbia

Discipline(s):

• Environmental Protection

Related events:

• CV2324-211

Rationale and scope:

Environmentally focused field inspection of Foothills Pipe lines (South BC) Ltd. - Zone 8 West Path Delivery 2023 Project. A 32 km single loop of (NPS) 48" pipeline to transport natural gas is being developed to loop the existing British Columbia Mainline and the Foothills South B.C. Pipeline (Elko Section). Inspection will assess field implementation of construction, environmental protection plan (EPP) and associated resource specific plans. This Project is noted to have specific attention paid to erosion and sediment controls due to the mountainous topography associated with the area.

 

Compliance tool(s) used:

• Corrected Non-compliance (CNC) (1)

Facility details

Facilities:

• B.C. MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2

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)
• Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR) 2020-03-16
• Plans And Procedures
• Project-specific Environmental Protection Plan (EPP)
• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED FOOTHILLS ZONE 8 WEST PATH DELIVERY 2023 PROJECT July 2022
• Project-specific plan or procedure
• Erosion and Sediment control plan (Company to specify title)
• Standards
• CSA Z662-19 - Oil and Gas Pipeline Systems

Observations (no outstanding follow-up required)

Observation 1 - CNC - Waste Segregation

Date & time of visit: 2022-10-11 15:15

Discipline: Environmental Protection

Categories:

• Housekeeping
• Waste Management

Facility:

• B.C. MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (Pipeline)

Observations:

During the inspection of the construction yard located near Morrisey, BC, the inspection team observed the waste bins to have poorly segregated materials. Examples of this include: 

- Water bottles and other recyclable drink containers placed in the domestic waste bin 
- A large, torn up tire in the domestic waste bin 

 

Compliance tool used: Corrected Non-compliance (CNC)

Regulatory requirement:

• Project-specific Environmental Protection Plan (EPP)
• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PLAN FOR THE PROPOSED FOOTHILLS ZONE 8 WEST PATH DELIVERY 2023 PROJECT July 2022

Relevant section(s):

• PDF, Pg 197. Appendix 1F. Chemical and Waste Management Plan. Section 1.2.3. Mitigation Measures. Waste Disposal. 3. Receptacles for industrial wastes generated during construction will be provided in order to keep them segregated from non-hazardous waste. Used oil and oil filters will be placed in sealed containers and delivered for disposal by a qualified service contractor.

Company action required:

The Company is instructed to remove the non-segregated materials from the domestic waste bin and organize the bins in such a way that it meets the requirements of the Waste Management Plan, specifically removing the recyclable bottles/cans, and tire fragments, from the domestic waste bin and be placed in the appropriately labelled bins.  

Due date: 2022-10-14

Date closed: 2022-10-14
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 2 - General Observations

Date & time of visit: 2022-10-12 12:00

Discipline: Environmental Protection

Categories:

• Soils and Soil Productivity
• Soil Handling
• Surface Water Management
• Surface Water Management Plan
• Water Bodies - Fish-bearing
• Use/Overuse/Flow
• Temporary Access Structures
• Wildlife
• Access Control/Lines of Sight
• Habitat Restoration/Offsets
• Housekeeping
• Waste Management
• Temporary Structures
• Vegetation
• Access Control
• Water Bodies - Non-Fish-bearing
• Temporary Access Structures

Facility:

• B.C. MAINLINE LOOP NO. 2 (Pipeline)

Observations:

During the course of a two (2) day field inspection on the Project, the inspecting officer was able to observe several aspects of construction. The following general observations were made:

ROW

• Elevation changes from low to exceptionally high and challenging.
• Pipe is in ground at intermittent spans across the project, primarily at lower elevations, and are backfilled and mitigated.
• Some areas have open ditch with standard safety mitigations and signage observed.
• Soils are segregated and staked/ labeled.
• Location of Acid Rock observed mitigated with isolated covering; testing is ongoing.

• Most access roads are pre-existing, with some new development.
• Access on ROW is matted in select locations to avoid compaction and rutting.
• Clear-span bridges utilized over watercourse crossings where practical, ESC in good order.
• Log decks present across Project in TWS

• Geotextile sediment fence utilized across the project for sediment retention
• Topography has been manipulated to naturally assist sediment controls on steep terrain.
• No erosion issues observed.
• Meeting took place with the Company’s ESC Contractor to discuss management of ESC issues and potential issues; Refer to IR.

• Of the watercourse crossings observed, three were in active construction with mitigation measures implemented (e.g., Fibre mats, riprap, and posts). Several others to be completed the following window of opportunity (i.e., fall 2023).
• Multiple tributaries to Leach Creek have been mitigated with appropriate signage for identification, sensitive wildlife populations, and fueling requirements are present where required.
• Open cut crossings have cobble and river rock substrate.
• Spawning deterrent’s observed instream at Leach creek; no fish observed. Assessments are performed for each individual watercourse.

• De-watering activities observed on ROW. Water observed being pumped out of ditch to an off-ROW location that utilized pens and water filtration bags for sediment control
• Hydro-carbon sources (i.e., pumps and equipment) are mitigated with secondary containment when found within 200 m of water body’s
• Required signage for notifications and fueling procedures are present and visible 

• NO wildlife observed during the inspection
• Appropriate signage and identification in place for required areas
• White Bark Pine is a SARA listed species present on the project and areas where stands exist have been appropriately identified for avoidance. All stems that have been cleared will remain on site to provide demographic viability. Replanting will occur during reclamation phase, and seeds are already being produced.
• Windrows observed evenly spaced across ROW.
• No issues observed.

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: