1.6 Government Relations the NEB Is the Responsible Federal Authority for the Assessment of the Project
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Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Trans Mountain Expansion Project Volume 3A Volume 3A – Public Consultation Page 3A–128 1.5.6 Phase 6 Engagement: Ongoing Operational Consultation, Post Construction Throughout Operational Life Trans Mountain believes our neighbours, governments and Aboriginal communities play an important role in how we conduct our business. Our success depends on earning the trust, respect, and cooperation of all community members. We are committed to respectful, transparent and collaborative interactions with communities to develop long term effective relationships. Once the pipeline becomes operational, engagement opportunities will continue through hosting facility open houses, providing newsletters and Project updates, making safety and public awareness presentations, participating in community events, regulatory processes, and ongoing informal meetings with stakeholders. Initiatives to be activated during this phase will be developed in the lead up to construction. Trans Mountain is committed to ongoing consultation in the communities in which it operates. 1.6 Government Relations The NEB is the responsible Federal Authority for the assessment of the Project. Upon filing of the Trans Mountain Project Description on May 23, 2013, the NEB initiated a preparatory process in anticipation of this Facilities Application being filed. The NEB process included notification of all relevant federal government departments and provincial agencies in Alberta and BC. In the lead up to the filing of the Project Description and the Facilities Application assessment process, all levels of government (local, provincial, and federal) where elected representatives and their constituents are potentially affected by the Project were engaged by Trans Mountain or provided opportunity to obtain information about the Project through the communications and engagement process described herein. This was undertaken in a manner consistent with the Project policy and vision for engagement whereby outreach and contact was made early and information needs were reasonably met prior to initiation of the formal Facilities Application process. Local government officials, MLAs of Alberta and BC, and MPs from relevant jurisdictions in Alberta and BC were invited to, and participated in, the Stakeholder Engagement Program including such components as: · stakeholder and issues identification; · public information and input gathering; · community conversations; and · continuing engagement. Where engagement with the federal government contributes to the understanding and evaluation of the Project, communications have also been undertaken through the Major Projects Management Office of the Department of Natural Resources. A formal protocol for the coordination of communications among federal departments and Trans Mountain was established. Regular engagement has been maintained with the governments of Alberta and BC facilitating effective participation in the assessment process by provincial authorities. With respect to BC’s Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Trans Mountain Expansion Project Volume 3A Volume 3A – Public Consultation Page 3A–129 Five Conditions for the Consideration of Heavy Oil Pipelines, Trans Mountain has consulted with the Province towards the goal of understanding and addressing its conditions. The Trans Mountain team met twice with representatives of the BC Government Major Oil and Gas Initiatives Executive Director’s Committee in 2013 to provide information in general about the Project, but also take questions from attendees. The Committee sought Trans Mountain’s presentations to help them understand the role the Province may have with respect to provincial permitting and authority, but also to help prepare for the Province’s participation in an anticipated NEB Facilities Application. Topics covered within the two presentations included: · general project information; · routing; · Aboriginal engagement; · stakeholder engagement; · ESA studies; · Marine ESA; and · TERMPOL/marine risk studies. 1.7 Summary of Outcomes The stakeholder engagement program encompassed a variety of activities to make the Project accessible to stakeholders with a wide range of preferences and interests. Feedback was received through the following: · comments and questions posted on the Project website’s online engagement portal; · community workshops; · ESA workshops; · feedback forms; · inquiries to the Project phone line and email address; · municipal workshops; · presentations and panels; · public open houses; · routing open houses; and · social media stakeholder meetings. Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Trans Mountain Expansion Project Volume 3A Volume 3A – Public Consultation Page 3A–130 Based on feedback from all sources, the top areas of interest or concern among stakeholders are: · community capacity building; · corporate policies; · land based access; · engagement process; · nuisance complaints; · operations and maintenance; · regulatory; · routing; · safety; and · terrestrial and marine environmental and socio-economic effects. Based on comments received during electronic communication, the most common topics discussed through the online questions, the discussion forum and feedback forms were: · climate change; · construction; · current operations; · dilbit and refining; · routing; · economic benefits and impacts; · employment and training; · environment; · liability; and · safety. Key topics and issues are relayed to the appropriate Project team representative to be considered, incorporated and addressed in this Application where applicable. Feedback received from the sources listed above is summarized in Table 1.7.1 to Table 1.7.5. Key topics of interest related to the marine regions that were brought up in the pipeline communities (Alberta, BC Interior and the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley) are summarized in Tables 1.7.1 to 1.7.6. Feedback specific to the Website Forum is summarized in Table 1.7.7. Feedback specific to the ESA Workshops, Community Workshops, and Routing Open Houses is summarized in Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Trans Mountain Expansion Project Volume 3A Volume 3A – Public Consultation Page 3A–131 Tables 1.7.8 to 1.7.34. Feedback specific to Terminal Open Houses is summarized in Tables 1.7.35 and 1.7.36. 1.7.1 Key Topics of Interest or Concern - Alberta (Edmonton to Jasper) Figure 1.7.1 displays the key topics of interest or concern in Alberta. This includes all comments from all engagement activities including public information sessions, ESA Workshops, community workshops, and online engagement. Key Interests/Concerns - Alberta Routing Regulatory Safety Operations and Maintenance Nuisance Socio-Economic Environmental - Terrestrial Access - Land Based Community Capacity Building Engagement Process Environmental - Corporate Policy Marine Figure 1.7.1 Key Topics of Interest or Concern in Alberta Table 1.7.1 provides information on the key topics of interest for Alberta, the response to the interest or concern, and where in the Application that key interest or concern is addressed. Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Trans Mountain Expansion Project Volume 3A Volume 3A – Public Consultation Page 3A–132 TABLE 1.7.1 INTERESTS OR CONCERNS – ALBERTA Key Topic Interest or Concern Summary Response Application Volume Corporate Policy Bitumen Concern regarding Bitumen is a heavier, thicker form of petroleum and contains fewer of the Volume 7, Section 5.0 chemical content and lighter hydrocarbon molecules found in conventional crude. In order to make Fate and Behaviour of a properties of bitumen bitumen flow through a pipeline, natural gas liquids or condensate (diluents) Hydrocarbon Release and diluents when are added. This substance referred to as dilbit is made up of both light and compared to refined oil heavy hydrocarbon molecules. The resulting density is the average of the products, the proportion materials blended. shipped and asked Some people think dilbit sinks in water. With a maximum density of 0.94, dilbit about clean-up methods is lighter than water (density 1.00) and seawater (density 1.03). Additional in the event of a spill. research is taking place to quantify how the dilbit reacts over time in water, with wave action, with fast-moving currents, with different sediment levels and with various other factors. Other studies have recently been conducted or are underway including the SL Ross Study (Meso-scale Weathering of Cold Lake Bitumen/Condensate Blend). The SL Ross Study was prepared for a Joint Review Panel submission by Enbridge Northern Gateway Project in anticipation of Natural Resources Canada requesting information on the weathering effects of dilbit on water. No scientific basis has been found to claims that dilbit causes greater internal corrosion in oil pipelines than other crude oil sources (Alberta Energy Utilities Board, “Pipeline Performance in Alberta, 1990-2005”). Climate Change/Clean Concern over climate Trans Mountain is assessing the carbon impact of constructing and operating n/a Air Technology change threshold the proposed expansion of the TMPL and its related facilities. The GHG impacts are outlined in the ESA submitted with the NEB Facilities Application. A carbon management plan will be developed to mitigate (reduce) emissions as much as possible. For upstream or downstream impacts outside of Trans Mountain’s jurisdiction or control, Trans Mountain is acting as a catalyst to influence the industry to help address issues upstream and downstream from the pipeline. Examples include: climate change; oil sands