Compliance Verification Activity Report: CV2223-047 - Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd.

Overview

Compliance verification activity type: Emergency Response Exercise

Team:

• Inspector 2730

Regulated company: Foothills Pipe Lines Ltd.

Operating company: TransCanada PipeLines Limited

Province(s) / Territory(s):

• Alberta

Discipline(s):

• Emergency Management

Rationale and scope:

On 27-28 September 2022, a Canada Energy Regulator (CER) Emergency Response Exercise Evaluation Team (evaluation team) attended the TC Energy (TCE or the Company) full-scale exercise in Wainwright and Hughenden, Alberta. The evaluation team included 2 CER Inspection Officers. In addition to evaluating, CER staff also joined Unified Command and participated in the exercise. Other attendees included Dinosaur Gas Co-Op, Natural Gas Co-Op 52 Ltd, West End Fire Department, Local RCMP, Village of Hughenden, Town of Wainwright Director of EM, Saskatchewan Energy, ATCO, and the M.D. of Provost.

TC Energy indicated that the purpose of the exercise was to provide a learning opportunity for participants and observers with varying levels of training and experience. The exercise included the following components:

1. Exercise kickoff, initial detection and field mobilization procedures, initial notifications, completion of an Incident Command System (ICS) 201 briefing, and a TC Energy Transfer of Command.
2. Activation of a Regional Emergency Operations Centre (REOC) to support initial field response.
3. Offer to form Unified Command and stand-up of a physical Incident Command Post, including some planning meetings.

Compliance tool(s) used:

• None

Facility details

Facilities:

Facility Types

• Pipeline
• Pipeline

Regulatory requirements

Regulatory requirements that apply to this activity:

• Canadian Energy Regulator Act (CERA)
• Onshore Pipeline Regulations (OPR) 2020-03-16

Observations (no outstanding follow-up required)

Observation 1 - Operation Top Priority

Date & time of visit: 2022-09-27 08:00

Discipline: Emergency Management

Categories:

• Notification and Reporting
• Notification & Reporting as per EPM
• Incident Classification
• Communications
• Organization of Stakeholders
• Coordination with Responders
• Safety
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Response Management
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Emergency Procedures Manual
• Incident Status Board

Facility:

Observations:

As shared by the Company the exercise scenario involved a landowner reporting a line strike had occurred while pulling a heavy construction vehicle over TCE’s right of way. The landowner evacuated the area without injury and reported that the strike was followed by a loud roaring sound and a large dust cloud. TCE Gas Control dispatched an On-Call Technician to investigate the location from a safe distance. TCE is also conducting In-Line-Inspection (ILI) cut-out work nearby as part of routine maintenance at the time of the incident. Work is nearly complete, and crews are currently on-site.    

CER staff evaluated aspects of the following elements:

• Notification & Reporting
• Safety
• Response management
• Communications
• Training
• Interoperability with response agencies and organizations
• Administrative

No non-compliances were identified during this exercise. Through CER staff evaluation of the elements listed above, it was noted that the company response actions were executed according to the Canada Gas Operations Emergency Response Plan and supporting emergency management and Incident Action Plan (IAP) job aids. 

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: