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Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. Geotechnical Report TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY With the TMX - Anchor Loop Project (the “Project”) Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. (“Terasen Pipelines”) proposes to loop a portion of its existing National Energy Board (“NEB”) regulated oil pipeline system (the “Trans Mountain pipeline” or “Trans Mountain”) to increase the capacity of the Trans Mountain pipeline to meet growing shipper demand. The Project involves the construction of 158 km of 812 mm or 914 mm (32-inch or 36-inch) diameter pipe between a location west of Hinton, Alberta at Kilometre Post/Kilometre Loop (“KP/KL") 310.1 and a location near Rearguard, British Columbia (BC) (KP/KL 468.0). The Project also includes the installation of two new pump stations at locations along the Trans Mountain pipeline, one in Alberta at Wolf (KP 188.0) and one in BC, at Chappel (KP 555.5), and the installation of associated aboveground facilities including block valves at several locations and a receiving trap for pipeline cleaning and inspection tools at a location near Rearguard, BC (KP/KL 468.0). Construction of the Project will require temporary construction camps and other temporary work yards. The Project will traverse federal, provincial and private lands, including Jasper National Park (JNP) in Alberta and Mount Robson Provincial Park (MRPP) in BC. This technical report has been prepared to support the Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment section of the Section 52 application to the NEB. It has been designed to satisfy the information requirements identified in the Scope and Requirements of the Environmental Assessment for the Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. TMX - Anchor Loop Project (TOR) (CEA Agency et al. 2005) for the Project and in the NEB Filing Manual. The Project follows an east-west transect through the Rocky Mountains, traversing portions of the Foothills, Front Ranges and Main Ranges. In terms of bedrock geology, Upper Cretaceous clastic sediments underlie the Foothills, the Front Ranges mainly comprise Paleozoic carbonates and Mesozoic clastics, and in the Main Ranges Precambrian sandstones, slates and shales predominate. There is no evidence that any of the bedrock formations traversed by the Project is acid-generating. Cordilleran till is the main surficial material of glacial origin, forming ground moraine and moraine blanket/veneer, with sand-gravel glaciofluvial outwash sediments locally. Postglacial deposits include colluvium on slopes, fluvial sediments, eolian dunes/blankets, recent lake basins and wetlands along the valley bottoms. Hydrogeologically, the Foothills and Rocky Mountains are a recharge area for regional groundwater flow systems that are discharged within the Interior Plains to the east or the Southern Rocky Trench to the west. Local groundwater flows occur between upland recharge areas and discharge zones along the valley bottoms and in the wetlands. Several hot and mineral springs occur close to the Project. While major natural hazards are generally avoided, a number of ground instabilities (rockslides and slumps) affect slopes close to, and/or are encroached upon, by the Project. These features are inferred to be mostly old and inactive. Creeks exhibiting evidence of debris flow activity are also encountered and snow avalanche tracks are locally abundant, particularly west of the Continental Divide. Erodible surficial materials occur locally, valley bottom areas close to the rivers and creeks are susceptible to flooding and wind erosion may be a concern in areas of eolian deposits. Karst terrain, characterized by surface/subsurface solution features (including caves), occurs in areas with carbonate bedrock. Permafrost likely occurs in alpine areas and may exist within two isolated wetlands close to the Project. The Proposed and Existing routes traverse similar terrain, geologically, but differences exist in terms of the relative distributions of bedrock terrain, coarse outwash deposits, wetlands, ground instabilities and debris flow channels close to the respective alignments. Based on consideration of these factors, it is concluded that the Existing Route is marginally preferrable from a terrain/geotechnical perspective. Recommended supplementary studies are identified. These include: examination of selected ground instabilities to confirm they do not pose a threat to the Project; investigation of the potential permafrost areas; detailed soils/bedrocks investigations in areas where directionally drilled installations are being considered; subsurface investigations at proposed aboveground facility locations to provide a basis for engineering design; and development of plans for implementation of drainage and erosion control measures following construction. Page i Terasen Pipelines (Trans Mountain) Inc. Geotechnical Report TMX - Anchor Loop Project November 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... I 1.0 INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................................................1 1.1 Route Options .....................................................................................................................1 1.1.1 Proposed Route .....................................................................................................1 1.1.2 Existing Route........................................................................................................2 1.2 Regulatory Standards .........................................................................................................2 1.3 Goals of the Report.............................................................................................................4 2.0 METHODOLOGY.............................................................................................................................4 2.1 Spatial Boundaries..............................................................................................................4 2.1.1 Project Footprint.....................................................................................................4 2.1.2 Local Study Area....................................................................................................4 2.1.3 Regional Study Area ..............................................................................................5 2.2 Literature Review ................................................................................................................5 2.3 Data Collection....................................................................................................................5 2.3.1 Pre-Field Work .......................................................................................................5 2.3.2 Field Work ..............................................................................................................5 2.4 Data Interpretation ..............................................................................................................5 3.0 SETTING..........................................................................................................................................6 3.1 Overall Project.....................................................................................................................6 3.2 Alberta/Jasper National Park (KP 310 to KP 406) ..............................................................7 3.3 Mount Robson Provincial Park/British Columbia (KP 406 to KP 468) ................................7 4.0 RESULTS.........................................................................................................................................8 4.1 Proposed Route ..................................................................................................................8 4.1.1 Overall Project........................................................................................................8 4.1.2 Alberta/Jasper National Park (KP 310 to KP 406).................................................9 4.1.3 Mount Robson Provincial Park/British Columbia (KP 406 to KP 468).................11 4.2 Existing Route...................................................................................................................13 4.2.1 Overall Project......................................................................................................13 4.2.2 Alberta/Jasper National Park (KP 310 to KP 406)...............................................14 4.2.3 Mount Robson Provincial Park/British Columbia (KP 406 to KP 468).................15 4.3 Permanent Facilities..........................................................................................................17 4.3.1 Wolf Pump Station (KP 188.0).............................................................................17 4.3.2 Chappel Pump Station (KP 555.5).......................................................................17 4.3.3 Scraper Trap Site (KP 468.0)...............................................................................17 4.3.4 Valve Sites ...........................................................................................................17 4.3.5 Access Roads ......................................................................................................17 4.4 Temporary Facilities for Construction ...............................................................................18