Order SLM-002-2017 to Westcoast Energy Inc., carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast) pursuant to section 51.1 of the National Energy Board Act
IN THE MATTER OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD ACT,
AN ORDER UNDER SECTION 51.1
is employed by Westcoast Energy Inc., carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast), and/or is a person conducting an excavation or construction on or near a facility located at Chetwynd, British Columbia.
On 26 August 2017 , the undersigned National Energy Board Inspection Officer conducted
an inspection at WCS-10 Tributary to Moberly River 55.814522 -122.165859 and WCS-16 Highrise Creek at 55.767084 -122.214498.
The Inspection Officer has reasonable grounds to believe:
The access bridges over the two watercourse crossings have not been constructed according to specification drawings, and may not be safe for large equipment, pipe and people to cross;
The “Riparian Management Areas” have not been adequately protected from rutting and general disturbance; and
Sediment and erosion control measures at each watercourse crossing is not adequate.
Based on the above mentioned, the inspection officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a hazard to the safety or security of the public, or employees of a company or a detriment to property or the environment is being or will be caused by the construction, operation, maintenance or abandonment of the pipeline, or excavation activity or construction of a facility as per 49(2)(a).
Therefore, is HEREBY ORDERED,
pursuant to subsections 51.1(1) and 51.1(2) of the National Energy Board Act, to
X take measures specified below for guarding the safety or security of the public or employees or protecting property or the environment
X Suspend work until the hazard or detrimental situation has been remedied to the satisfaction of the inspection officer; or the order is stayed or rescinded by the Board
Specified Measures: Westcoast shall:
Stop travel on the span bridges located at WCS-10 Tributary to the Moberly River, and WCS-16 Highrise Creek;
Stop travel on the wooden access ramp across WCS-16 Highrise Creek and remove as soon as practicable;
Provide written confirmation from a Professional Engineer that the span bridges located at WCS-10 and WCS-16 meet the requirements of Spectra Energy Drawing No. 22 Typical Temporary Bridge-Portable, and that it is safe to transport sidebooms and the 42” section of pipe to be installed at each watercourse; and
Correct all non-compliances at each watercourse with reference to requirements specified in the High Pine Expansion Project Environmental Protection Plan, dated 2 August 2016.
26 August 2017 Inspection – South Pipeline Loop Watercourses
Reference: EPP, Table 7-7 & Environmental Alignment Sheets
#
KP
Name
Riparian Management Area
M
Resources, Requirements and Hazards
Observed Non-Compliances
WCS-10
8.9
Tributary to Moberly River
40
(80 total)
Caribou herd range
The riparian management area will be flagged prior to construction
Install clear span bridge
Fish bearing watercourse
RAP from 15 to August 15
Avoid harm to fish and fish habitat
Rescue fish prior to crossing
Keep RoW clearing as narrow as possible within the riparian zone and disturbance in the riparian area disturbance should be minimized
Disturbance and clearing minimized
Discharge water 50 m away from watercourse and prevent erosion
Gaps will be left in strippings at wildlife trails
Apply seed mix to minimize erosion
For bank stabilization, soft engineering is preferred over riprap armoring to facilitate natural channel processes. On steep banks utilize brush layering or geo-grid system to stabilize soil. If stream banks must be armored, install live dormant posts of will or dogwood between riprap and through an underlying geotextile cloth at a prescribed density
High or severe erosion risk and tion, wildlife habitat and sensitive areas
Avoid and minimize caribou hpriority area for installation of sediment barriers
Weed management required
Lessen disturbance to vegetaabitat loss and restore on-site then monitor for effectiveness
Silt fence does not meet compliance to specification Spectra Energy Drawing No. 1
Clean granular material has not been used to construct the temporary bridge as required by specification Spectra Energy Drawing No. Drawing 22
Metal supporting posts for the bridge abutment are leaning out
The wooden matts used for the construction of the abutments are broken and leaning out
Exposed soil is in the channel and banks of the watercourse from equipment operating through the creek
Two sediment laden, non-woven geotextile fabric piles (deleterious material) located within the Riparian Management Area (RMA) have not been removed
Large trees within the RMA, and not in the work area have been cut down
Topsoil piles have not been marked/flagged
At the marked wildlife trails, access has not been maintained through the soil piles
Trees have been cut up to 11 m off of the right-of-way near wildlife trails
Rutting up to 60 cm deep through the creek on the west limit of the right-of-way
Broken wooden matts on site
WCS-16
15.1
Highrise Creek
50
(100 total)
Caribou herd range
The riparian management area will be flagged prior to construction
Limit clearing dimensions and reduce disturbance to vegetation
Temporary workspace will be reduced
Install clear span bridge
Fish bearing watercourse
Avoid harm to fish and fish habitat
Rescue fish prior to crossing
Keep RoW clearing as narrow as possible within the riparian zone and disturbance in the riparian area disturbance should be minimized
Clearly stake and/or flag sensitive areas like old forest
Disturbance and clearing minimized to blade width or 20 m
Avoid felling trees into old forest
Discharge water 50 m away from watercourse and prevent erosion
Potentially unstable trench
Apply seed mix to minimize erosion
For bank stabilization, soft engineering is preferred over riprap armoring to facilitate natural channel processes. On steep banks utilize brush layering or geo-grid system to stabilize soil. If stream banks must be armored, install live dormant posts of will or dogwood between riprap and through an underlying geotextile cloth at a prescribed density
Lessen disturbance to vegetation, wildlife habitat and sensitive areas
Avoid and minimize caribou habitat loss and restore on-site then monitor for effectiveness
Silt fencing does not meet compliance to specification Spectra Energy Drawing No. 1
Clean granular material has not been used to construct the temporary bridge as required by specification Spectra Energy Drawing No. Drawing 22
Ramp across the watercourse does not have a culvert, and has not been constructed as required by specification Spectra Energy Drawing No. 21
Metal supporting post for the bridge abutment is leaning out
The wooden matts used for the construction of the abutments are leaning out
Large trees within the RMA, and off right-of-way have been cut and felled into the old forest stand
Broken wooden matts on site
Garbage on site
Rutting in the RMA to 30 cm deep
Inspection Officer
Inspection Officer
__________________________________
Signature
IO Designation #1680
Date 27 August 2017
210-517 10 Ave SW, Calgary AB T2R 0A8
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