Enbridge Pipelines (Westspur) Inc
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REPORT ON ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT FOR THE ALIDA TO CROMER CAPACITY EXPANSION PROJECT Submitted to: Enbridge Pipelines (Westspur) Inc. 402 Kensington Avenue Estevan, Saskatchewan S4A 2K9 Attention: Ms. Femke Want DISTRIBUTION: 25 Copies - National Energy Board, Calgary, Alberta 6 Copies - Enbridge Pipelines (Westspur) Inc., Calgary, Alberta 2 Copies - Golder Associates Ltd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan December 2006 06-1361-319 December 2006 - i - 06-1361-319 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Enbridge Pipelines (Westspur) Inc. is proposing to expand the capacity of its current Westspur transmission system through the construction of the Alida to Cromer Capacity Expansion Project, referred to as the “Project”. The Project will consist of the construction of a 60 km long (with a 20 m wide Right-of-Way, a 168.3 mm (6 inch) outside diameter pipeline to transport natural gas liquids from Alida, Saskatchewan to Cromer, Manitoba (Figure 1). Once construction is complete, the existing, adjacent 324 mm (12 inch) outside diameter pipeline will be converted from its current natural gas liquids service to crude oil service. The terminals at Alida and Cromer will be upgraded to accommodate the new line, and additional pumps will be added at Alida. Construction is proposed to begin in July 2007, once the necessary regulatory approvals have been received, and the Project is anticipated to be completed by September/October 2007. The Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment follows the National Energy Board Filing Manual (2006) using Guide A – Facilities Applications (National Energy Board Act Section 52 and Section 58). The Project will be constructed using best construction techniques and mitigations described in detail in the Environmental Protection Plan. Proposed soil salvage and replacement includes trench and spoil side stripping in agricultural areas, and trench line stripping in areas of extensive native vegetation. The proposed alignment of the Project parallels an existing pipeline constructed in 1955. No long-term environmental effects were identified as a result this existing Right-of- Way. Baseline environmental conditions in the Project area were described and Valued Ecosystem Components were identified using the concepts of sustainable development, the results of the consultation program, and a review of existing information for the following: • Climate; • Air quality; • Acoustic environment; • Geology; • Groundwater; • Aquatics; • Soils; Golder Associates N:\ACTIVE\2006\1361\06-1361-319 ENBRIDGE ALIDA TO CROMER PIPELINE\REPORT\FINAL DRAFT\FINAL REPORT (DECEMBER 2006)\REPORT - DECEMBER 5, 2006\WESTSPUR ESA FINAL - DECEMBER 2006.DOC December 2006 - ii - 06-1361-319 • Vegetation; • Wildlife and wildlife habitat; • Wetlands; • Socio-economics; and, • Heritage resources. Key baseline results include: • the crossing of nine water courses and associated riparian vegetation communities, five of which are known to contain fish; • the crossing of approximately 2,100 m of designated wildlife lands containing native vegetation on both sides of the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border; and, • the crossing of the margins of 60 wetlands not crossed by the existing Right-of-Way. Key mitigation measures for the Project include: • following an existing Right-of-Way for the entire length; • implementation of best management practices including suspension of construction during wet conditions; • trench width only stripping through the designated wildlife lands; • salvage of the entire depth of topsoil; • revegetation using a native seed mix through areas of native vegetation; • extending road bores under adjacent permanent wetlands; and, • directional drill under the Pipestone Creek. The ecological context of the residual effects of the Project were determined for each Valued Ecosystem Components considering direction, magnitude, spatial extent, duration, frequency, reversibility, probability of occurrence, and permanence. The ecological context of all residual effects was considered negligible or low. Long-term effects of the Project were judged to be not significant based on the minimal impacts observed of the existing Right-of-Way and the mitigation measures proposed. Cumulative effects were also assessed, considering the combined effects of the Project with the effects of past, present and reasonably foreseeable future developments in the region. The cumulative effects were considered to be of low importance and predicted to be not significant. Environmental monitoring will be conducted during construction so that the mitigation measures proposed are implemented and/or so that appropriate modifications and decisions can be made in the field to respond to the conditions at the time of construction. Golder Associates N:\ACTIVE\2006\1361\06-1361-319 ENBRIDGE ALIDA TO CROMER PIPELINE\REPORT\FINAL DRAFT\FINAL REPORT (DECEMBER 2006)\REPORT - DECEMBER 5, 2006\WESTSPUR ESA FINAL - DECEMBER 2006.DOC December 2006 - iii - 06-1361-319 Based on the findings presented in this Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment, it is Golder Associates Ltd.'s opinion that the Project can be constructed in an environmentally responsible manner, with limited negative impacts to the current environmental and socio-economic conditions. The residual effects identified in the impact assessment are considered to be typical for this type of project, and mitigation strategies proposed have been used successfully on similar projects throughout Canada. As such, Enbridge Pipelines (Westspur) Inc. and Golder Associates Ltd. are confident that the predicted residual impacts (rated as negligible to low) reasonably represent the Project effects; the predicted residual impacts were judged to be not significant. The cumulative effects assessment considered the predicted residual impacts, in conjunction with residual impacts from past, present and known, approved projects in the cumulative effects study area. Considering the low level of environmental and social effects identified, and the expectation that the majority of the cumulative effects would be apparent during the construction phase of the Project and reversible with proven mitigation, the cumulative effects are predicted to be not significant. Consistent with the concepts of sustainable development, the Project is not expected to limit the use of the area or the natural resources in the area, by future generations. Golder Associates N:\ACTIVE\2006\1361\06-1361-319 ENBRIDGE ALIDA TO CROMER PIPELINE\REPORT\FINAL DRAFT\FINAL REPORT (DECEMBER 2006)\REPORT - DECEMBER 5, 2006\WESTSPUR ESA FINAL - DECEMBER 2006.DOC December 2006 - iv - 06-1361-319 TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE Executive Summary .........................................................................................................i Table of Contents........................................................................................................... iv List of Acronyms and Abbreviations............................................................................. xiv 1.0 INTRODUCTION...................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Proponent .............................................................................................1-3 1.2 Contacts ...............................................................................................1-3 1.3 Regulatory Approvals and Authorizations ............................................1-4 1.4 Concordance Table ..............................................................................1-6 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION....................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Purpose and Need of Project ...............................................................2-1 2.1.1 Pipeline Capacity Considerations and Alternatives to the Project.......................................................................................2-1 2.1.2 Pipeline Tolls ............................................................................2-1 2.2 Project Components .............................................................................2-1 2.2.1 Pipeline .....................................................................................2-2 2.2.2 Booster and Valve Stations ......................................................2-2 2.2.3 Pipeline Conversion..................................................................2-3 2.2.4 Temporary Facilities .................................................................2-3 2.3 Route Selection ....................................................................................2-3 2.4 Construction Techniques......................................................................2-6 2.4.1 Clearing ....................................................................................2-6 2.4.2 Grading .....................................................................................2-6 2.4.3 Trenching..................................................................................2-7 2.4.4 Pipelaying .................................................................................2-7 2.4.5 Backfilling..................................................................................2-7 2.4.6 Reclamation and Restoration ...................................................2-7 2.5 Pipeline Integrity Validation and Testing ..............................................2-8 2.6 Construction Schedule .........................................................................2-9 2.7 Waste Disposal.....................................................................................2-9