Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area Reclamation Plan for the Trans Mountain Pipeline Ulc Trans Mountain Expansion Project
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COQUIHALLA SUMMIT RECREATION AREA RECLAMATION PLAN FOR THE TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE ULC TRANS MOUNTAIN EXPANSION PROJECT February 2017 REV 1 687945 01-13283-GG-0000-CHE-RPT-0042 R1 Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. Suite 2700, 300 – 5th Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 5J2 Ph: 403-514-6400 Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area Reclamation Plan Trans Mountain Expansion Project 687945/February 2017 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC (Trans Mountain) submitted a Facilities Application (the Application) to the National Energy Board (NEB) in December 2013 for the proposed Trans Mountain Expansion Project (“the Project” or “TMEP”). On May 19, 2016, Trans Mountain received the NEB’s Conditions for the Project. On November 29, 2016, the Government of Canada concluded the Project was in the public interest of Canada. A Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) and other authorizations allowing the Project to proceed, subject to 157 conditions, were issued and became effective on December 1, 2016. The Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area (CSRA or Recreation Area) Reclamation Plan (the Reclamation Plan) was prepared to meet Trans Mountain’s commitments to reclaim all protected areas disturbed by the Project using best practices, in consultation with British Columbia (BC) Parks. The Reclamation Plan is a site-specific plan that outlines the reclamation strategy and additional mitigation measures for areas in the Recreation Area that will be disturbed by activities related to the Project. The Recreation Area is located along the Coquihalla Highway, approximately 45 km northeast of Hope, BC, and contains a high diversity of plant communities and wildlife species. The Recreation Area also provides outdoor recreation opportunities for southern BC residents and tourists. The Project crosses the Recreation Area for a total of 12.8 km, from Project kilometer posts (KP) KP 989.3 to KP 1002.16. The Reclamation Plan builds on the Pipeline Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) (Volume 2 of the Environmental Plans) and the general reclamation measures that are included in the Reclamation Management Plan (Section 9.0, Volume 6 of the Environmental Plans). The Reclamation Plan: aligns with information from other relevant Trans Mountain Management Plans (Table 1.2); addresses Trans Mountain commitments related to Project activities in BC provincial parks and protected areas (Table 1.3); includes results from engagement with Aboriginal groups and consultation with BC Parks, stakeholders and the general public, and considers interests and concerns specific to reclamation of the Recreation Area (Appendix A); and is consistent with the objectives of the BC Parks CSRA Master Plan (Section 3.1). The overall objective of the Project reclamation program is to maintain and, where applicable, improve terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and landscapes by re-establishing ecological processes and functionality (Section 1.3). In the Recreation Area, Trans Mountain, in consultation with BC Parks, will typically be responsible for the establishment of an early seral stage and successional trajectory of the native plant communities. Pre-construction and construction mitigation related to reclamation that is detailed in the Pipeline EPP (Volume 2 of the Environmental Plans) is outlined in Section 5.1 and Section 5.2, respectively, and post-construction reclamation measures for the CSRA are detailed in Section 5.3. The majority of the reclamation work will occur post-construction. Objectives of post-construction measures are to prevent environmental degradation and enhance wildlife and recreational use of the pipeline construction footprint. Monitoring the reclamation measures conducted in the Recreation Area will be a component of the Project Post-Construction Environmental Monitoring (PCEM) Program. Surveys conducted during the PCEM Program will document the establishment of seeded and naturally regenerating species, the survival of planted species and the presence and abundance (species distribution and density) of invasive plant species. Monitoring plots will be established in the Recreation Area. Additional monitoring of reclamation measures completed for the special habitat features will also be monitored. PCEM will occur one full growing season after reclamation and again in year three and year five. Issues that are identified during the monitoring program will be addressed and remedial work will be conducted, in consultation with BC Parks. Follow-up plans will be developed, if warranted, to verify that the activities and other works identified in the Reclamation Plan are effective. 01-013283-GG-0000-CHE-RPT-0042 Page i Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area Reclamation Plan Trans Mountain Expansion Project 687945/February 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... I 1.0 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Description .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Goals and Management Objectives of the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area Reclamation Plan ................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Links to Other Trans Mountain Environmental Plans ......................................................... 4 1.4 Commitment Management .................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Regulatory Guidance .......................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1 Federal Standards ................................................................................................. 6 1.5.2 Provincial Standards .............................................................................................. 6 2.0 CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY ...................................................................... 7 3.0 COQUIHALLA SUMMIT RECREATION AREA SETTING .............................................................. 8 3.1 Project Interactions ............................................................................................................. 8 3.2 Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area Master Plan .............................................................. 8 3.3 General Ecological Conditions in the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area ....................... 9 3.3.1 Terrain and Soils .................................................................................................... 9 3.3.2 Ecosystems .......................................................................................................... 10 3.3.3 Old Growth Management Areas .......................................................................... 11 3.3.4 Rare Plants and Rare Plant Communities ........................................................... 11 3.3.5 Wildlife Features and Habitat ............................................................................... 12 3.3.6 Non-Native Species ............................................................................................. 14 3.3.7 Watercourse Crossings ........................................................................................ 15 3.3.8 Wetlands .............................................................................................................. 16 3.3.9 Recreation Features ............................................................................................ 16 4.0 RECLAMATION PROGRAM.......................................................................................................... 18 4.1 Reclamation Strategy ........................................................................................................ 18 4.2 Reclamation Units ............................................................................................................. 19 5.0 TIMING OF RECLAMATION MEASURES .................................................................................... 20 5.1 Pre-Construction Mitigation Measures Related to Reclamation ....................................... 20 5.1.1 Areas with Special Clearing Requirements ......................................................... 22 5.2 Construction Mitigation Measures ..................................................................................... 23 5.3 Post-Construction Reclamation Measures........................................................................ 28 5.3.1 Biostabilization ..................................................................................................... 28 5.3.2 Seeding and Planting ........................................................................................... 33 5.3.3 Watercourse Crossings ........................................................................................ 36 5.3.4 Wildlife Habitat ..................................................................................................... 39 5.3.5 Post-Construction Invasive Species Control Program ......................................... 40 5.3.6 Access Control ..................................................................................................... 40 6.0 POST-CONSTRUCTION ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING .....................................................