Environmental Assessment Summary NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Attachment 17

Environmental Assessment Summary NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SUMMARY

NGTL commissioned Stantec Consulting Ltd. (Stantec) to prepare an Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment (ESA) for the construction and operation of the Project. The ESA has been prepared in accordance with the NEB Filing Manual, 2017-01 and the Interim Filing Guidance and Early Engagement Guide, and is appropriate for the nature and magnitude of anticipated environmental and socio-economic effects.

Potential effects identified during the ESA for the Project can be mitigated using standard and Project-specific environmental protection measures provided in the Project’s Environmental Protection Plan (EPP). The Project’s EPP was developed as part of the ESA. The predicted residual effects associated with the Project are similar to those normally encountered during pipeline and meter station construction and operation in Alberta. The ESA concludes that residual Project effects and residual cumulative effects are predicted to be not significant.

See the response to EV3 and EV6 below for a summary of the environmental baseline for key elements assessed in the ESA. The Project’s potential effects, proposed mitigation and predicted residual and cumulative effects are further detailed in Attachment 19: Interactions Table.

EV3:

The Raven River Section Project Development Area (PDA1; 137 ha) overlaps with the following wildlife areas:  Key Wildlife and Biodiversity Zone (KWBZ) associated with the Clearwater River (0.8 ha at the northern end of the PDA).  Grizzly bear Secondary Recovery Zone within the Clearwater Bear Management Area (BMA) 4 (12 ha at the southern end of the PDA)  Grizzly bear Support Zone identified for BMA 4 (125 ha of the PDA)

The Local Assessment Area (LAA; 1 km buffer around the PDA for each Project component) overlaps the following wildlife areas:  KWBZ associated with Burnstick Lake and Birch Lake  KWBZ associated with James River  Grizzly bear Secondary Recovery Zone within the Clearwater BMA 4  Grizzly bear Support Zone identified for BMA 4

1 The PDA is a 75 m wide assessment corridor, which conservatively includes a minimum 32 m wide construction corridor plus up to an additional 43 m for temporary workspace to accommodate construction activities and safe vehicle and equipment movement. Although a 75 m wide construction footprint will not be required for most of the corridor, NGTL applied this conservative estimate to facilitate robust spatial analysis and discussion of the maximum potential effects of clearing and ground disturbance. Temporary workspace requirements will be refined upon completion of engineering design closer to the start of construction.

June 2020 Page 1 of 15

Attachment 17 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental Assessment Summary NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

 A previously identified great blue heron nesting colony (AEP 2019a) is located on Birch Lake; the 1000 m setback for this colony overlaps the LAA, but does not overlap the PDA.

The Regional Assessment Area (RAA; 15 km buffer around the PDA for each Project component) overlaps four additional KWBZs.

The assessment areas for the Raven River Section do not intersect other key wildlife ranges, national or provincial parks, wildlife sanctuaries, or important bird areas (AEP 2019a, AEP 2019b, Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada 2019).

The ABC Section PDA (39 ha) and the ABC Border MS Expansion PDA (3.6 ha) overlap the following wildlife areas:  KWBZ associated with the Crowsnest River and its tributaries (8.8 ha of the ABC Section PDA and 3.6 ha of the ABC Border MS Expansion PDA).  Mountain Goat and Bighorn Sheep Range in Alberta (35 ha of the ABC Section PDA). This range has a specified Restricted Activity Period (RAP) for industrial activity (SRD 2010).  Grizzly bear Core Recovery Zone for Grizzly BMA 5 (16 ha of the ABC Section PDA).  Part of the ABC Section PDA and the ABC Border MS Expansion PDA overlap a portion of the proposed Jim Prentice Wildlife Corridor, an initiative by the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Government of Alberta to connect wildlife movement between protected wildlife habitat south of Highway 3 (e.g., within Castle Crown Provincial Park and Waterton Lakes National park) and Crown forest reserve lands north of Highway 3.

The ABC Section LAA and RAA overlap the Core Recovery Zone for Grizzly BMA 5 and the RAA overlaps a grizzly bear Core Recovery Zone for BMA 6.

The RAAs of both components overlap the following wildlife areas:  KWBZs associated with the Racehorse Creek and Daisy Creek  Castle Wildland Provincial Park, Castle Provincial Park, Chinook Lake Provincial Recreation Area, and Island Lake Provincial Recreation Area

The spatial boundaries for the ABC Section and ABC Border MS Expansion do not intersect other key wildlife ranges, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, or important bird areas (Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada 2018, AEP 2019a).

EV4: New land will be acquired for construction of the Project. The total land area required for each component of the Project includes the following:  The Raven River Section PDA is approximately 137 ha and is located adjacent to an existing active pipeline ROW. The PDA is located on Crown lands in the Green and White Areas of Alberta (81%), and on Freehold lands (19%) within Clearwater County.

Page 2 of 15 June 2020

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

 The ABC Section PDA is approximately 39 ha and is located adjacent to an existing active pipeline ROW. The PDA is located on Crown lands in the Green Area of Alberta (38%) and on Freehold lands (62%) within the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.  The ABC Border MS Expansion PDA is approximately 3.6 ha and is located within and adjacent to an existing active meter station. The PDA is located entirely on Freehold lands owned by NGTL in the White Area of Alberta, within the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass.

See Attachment 22: Land Matters Summary for further details.

EV6: See Attachment 19: Interactions Table for further details on potential environmental and socio-economic effects associated with the Project, mitigation measures to be implemented, predicted residual and cumulative effects and their significance. Mitigation measures in the EPP are consistent with those listed in the Interactions Table. Not every mitigation presented in the Interaction Table applies to every Project component due to the nature of the Project component (i.e., pipeline versus meter station) and environmental setting in which it is located. For example, mitigation measures relating to fish habitat are applicable only to those Project components that cross fish-bearing watercourses (i.e., Raven River Section and ABC Section). The following provides a summary of the environmental baseline for some of the key elements assessed in the ESA, focusing on aquatic and terrestrial species at risk.

Appendix A to this Summary includes watercourse crossing tables summarizing watercourse crossings along the Raven River Section and ABC Section, including summaries of fish habitat, documented fish species, RAPs, and crossing methods. The tables also include confirmation that for each of the watercourses crossed by the two pipeline components of the Project, applicable DFO Measures to Protect Fish and Fish Habitat will be followed and Authorization under paragraph 35(2)(b) of the Fisheries Act is not required.

The Raven River Section crosses two watercourses: Raven River and an unnamed tributary to Beaver Creek. Species at risk documented in the RAA consists of bull trout (Saskatchewan-Nelson Rivers population), which is listed as threatened on Schedule 1 of SARA. Although documented within the RAA, it is unlikely bull trout are present within the two watercourses crossed by the Raven River Section.

The ABC Section crosses two watercourses: an unnamed tributary to Crowsnest River and an unnamed tributary to Crowsnest Lake. The PDA crosses one unnamed lake, but it is not crossed by the pipeline ditch and work will be avoided below the ordinary high water mark. Species at risk documented in the RAA consist of bull trout (Saskatchewan-Nelson Rivers population) and westslope cutthroat trout (Saskatchewan-Nelson Rivers population), which are both listed as threatened on Schedule 1 of SARA and the Alberta Wildlife Act (GOC 2019a; GOA 2017; AEP 2019a). The ABC Section PDA does not cross critical habitat for westslope cutthroat trout, although critical habitat for westslope cutthroat trout is present in the RAA as identified in the proposed Westslope Cutthroat Trout: Recovery Strategy and

June 2020 Page 3 of 15

Attachment 17 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental Assessment Summary NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

Action Plan (GOC 2019b). The presence of westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout within the watercourses crossed by the ABC Section is unlikely.

No watercourses or drainages are crossed by the ABC Border MS Expansion PDA; however, Allison Creek is located within 30 m (AEP 2020). Allison Creek flows north to south and parallels the eastern boundary of the PDA. The existing ABC Border MS Expansion is located on flat terrain, and there are no drainages connecting the PDA to Allison Creek. As there is no drainage connection of the PDA to a watercourse, construction does not have the potential to interact with fish and fish habitat and no further fish and fish habitat assessment was completed for the ABC Border MS Expansion.

Aerial wildlife habitat reconnaissance surveys were conducted in October 2019 for all the Project components. Objectives for the aerial habitat reconnaissance surveys were to identify habitat for species at risk and species of management concern most likely to occur in the LAAs and to identify and map important wildlife habitat features (e.g., wetlands, mineral licks, dens, nests and nest colonies) in the LAAs.

Four species of management concern, including moose (Alces americanus), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), beaver (Castor canadensis) and trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator), were observed in the Raven River Section LAA during the 2019 habitat reconnaissance survey. Eight unoccupied raptor stick nests were also observed in the LAA. During the 2019 aerial habitat reconnaissance survey, suitable habitat was observed in the LAA for olive-sided flycatcher, common nighthawk, and Canada lynx; and suitable habitat was identified in and adjacent to the PDA for yellow rail, little brown myotis, western toad, and grizzly bear.

Two species of management concern, elk and bighorn sheep, were observed in the ABC Section LAA during the 2019 habitat reconnaissance survey and suitable habitat was identified in and adjacent to the PDA for grizzly bear, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, American badger, little brown myotis, common nighthawk, tree-nesting raptors, and western toad.

Targeted surveys for amphibians, migratory songbirds, and yellow rail will be conducted in this identified potentially suitable habitat within the Raven River Section, ABC Section, ABC Border MS Expansion LAAs in spring 2020. The status of raptor nests identified during the 2019 aerial habitat reconnaissance survey will also be checked during spring 2020 to confirm occupancy and activity.

Potential effects on federally-listed SARA Schedule 1 species, specifically wildlife species, are provided in Attachment 19: Interactions Table for each Project component. There is no critical habitat for wildlife designated under the SARA affected by the Project. Mitigation measures provided in Attachment 19: Interactions Table and the EPP have been designed to avoid or reduce potential effects on species at risk and species of management concern during construction and operation of the Project.

Page 4 of 15 June 2020

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

Construction of the Raven River Section is expected to affect approximately 82 ha (60% of the PDA) of native vegetation, including forested uplands and wetlands. One non-vascular plant species of provincial management concern, listed on the ACIMS (2018) tracking list, was identified within a seasonal shrubby swamp in the Raven River Section LAA during the vegetation field surveys in September 2019. This species, cat-tongue liverwort (Conocephalum salebrosum) is provincially ranked S2S4 but is not listed by the Wildlife Act, COSEWIC or SARA. No other plant species or ecological communities of management concern were identified during the 2019 field surveys. No Old Forest, as defined by Andison (2005), was identified in the PDA. Occurrences of two noxious weed species were documented during 2019 field surveys, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and tall buttercup (Ranunculus acris). No evidence of mountain pine beetle or spruce beetle boreholes, sawdust or tree mortality were observed in the PDA during 2019 reconnaissance surveys.

Construction of the ABC Section is expected to affect approximately 36 ha (92% of the PDA) of native vegetation, including forested uplands, shrubland, forb, grassland, and wetlands. Two plant species of management concern were identified in the LAA during the 2019 field survey: limber pine (Pinus flexilis), and blue phlox (Phlox alyssifolia). Limber pine was found at three sites, one within and two outside of the PDA (the site within the PDA had three trees), and is known to occur historically at two sites in the PDA, eight sites in the LAA, and 128 sites in the RAA. Limber pine is listed as endangered by the Alberta Wildlife Regulation and COSEWIC. Yellow sedge was found at one site in the PDA. Blue phlox was found at one site in the LAA, outside of the PDA. Yellow sedge and blue phlox are not listed by the Alberta Wildlife Regulation, COSEWIC or SARA, but are tracked by ACIMS. The identification of yellow sedge is tentative due to snow cover and the late season of the survey in 2019. The ABC Section does not cross critical habitat for whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis), although critical habitat for whitebark pine is present in the RAA (approximately 1.2 km from the PDA) and the ABC Section crosses the 2 km buffer area around critical habitat, as identified in the proposed Recovery Strategy for whitebark pine (ECCC 2017).

Three ecological communities of management concern were documented during the 2019 field survey:  limber pine / common bearberry woodland  limber pine - Douglas-fir / juniper species / common bearberry  Idaho fescue - bluebunch wheat grass grassland

All three of these communities occurred both in the PDA and in the LAA. There is a Protective Notation (PNT090087) for foothills fescue grassland on quarter sections SE and SW 17-008-05 W5M; however, foothills fescue grassland is not present in the PDA in these locations.

No Old Forest, as defined by Andison (2005), was identified in the PDA. Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa), a prohibited noxious weed, and four noxious weed species (spotted Canada thistle, blueweed [Echium vulgare], yellow toadflax [Linaria vulgaris], and common mullein [Verbascum thapsus]) were observed in the LAA and PDA. Evidence of mountain

June 2020 Page 5 of 15

Attachment 17 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental Assessment Summary NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

pine beetle or spruce beetle was not observed during the 2019 field survey in the LAA; however, evidence of white pine blister rust (dead branches) was observed on limber pine trees.

The ABC Border MS Expansion occurs partially on lands that have been previously disturbed, including an existing meter station. There is no forested land within this Project component’s PDA; however, there is native grassland totaling 1.8 ha or 49% of this PDA. Vegetation species at risk, vegetation species of management concern, and ecological communities of management concern that occur within the ABC Section RAA have the potential to occur in the ABC Border MS Expansion RAA. Because there are no trees in the PDA, there is no Old Forest, as defined by Andison (2005), and no potential occurrences of forest pests for this Project component PDA. Noxious and prohibited noxious weed species that occur in the ABC Section RAA have the potential to occur in the ABC Border MS Expansion RAA.

The occurrences of species and ecosystems of importance identified by Indigenous communities will be documented during biophysical surveys (e.g., vegetation, wildlife, and fish and fish habitat) planned for all Project components in 2020.

NGTL has engaged 28 Indigenous groups through the Project’s Indigenous engagement program. Detailed information regarding the Indigenous engagement program is presented in Attachment 23: Indigenous Matters Summary. NGTL will address questions and concerns from Indigenous groups through its ongoing engagement efforts should any arise. Where appropriate, traditional knowledge (TK) received from Indigenous groups will be incorporated into Project planning. Consideration of this information will include evaluating whether NGTL’s planned mitigation would effectively manage identified potential interactions, or whether additional or refined mitigation is warranted.

Through effective implementation of mitigation and reclamation techniques (see Attachment 19: Interactions Table), construction scheduling (i.e., winter for Raven River Section), and using existing disturbance to reduce habitat alteration, effects on water quality and quantity and fish and fish habitat, wildlife and wildlife habitat including federally listed wildlife species at risk, and native vegetation, are predicted to be not significant.

EV7 and S3: See Attachment 19: Interactions Table for further details on potential environmental and socio-economic effects associated with the Project, mitigation measures to be implemented, as well as predicted residual effects and cumulative effects, and their significance.

Based on the planned mitigation and predicted residual and cumulative effects described in the Interactions Table, the ESA for the Project determined that residual Project effects and residual cumulative effects are predicted to be not significant. Potential adverse environmental effects will be mitigated effectively with standard and Project-specific environmental protection measures.

Page 6 of 15 June 2020

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

Potential effects of decommissioning or abandonment activities will be assessed in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements at the time of decommissioning or abandonment of the Project. EV8 and EV8-1: Government agencies have received early notification of the proposed Project. On-going engagement with applicable government agencies responsible for administering legislation, policies, regulations, required approvals, and guidelines, is imperative to environmental planning for the Project. To this end, initial environmental planning sessions, primarily focused on required approvals, wetlands, wildlife, fisheries, species at risk and reclamation, have been set for all components of the Project. A tentative schedule for future collaboration will be discussed at initial environmental planning sessions. To date, no specific concerns have been raised. See Attachment 21: Engagement Matters Summary. S4: Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women (ACMSW) was engaged to determine the Historical Resources Act (HRA) requirements for the Project (ACMSW 2019). Historic Resources Applications were completed for each Project component and presented to ACMSW for their review in a regulatory submission to determine whether any field assessment or consultation is required. An Historic Resources Application for the Raven River Section was presented to ACMSW for their review on December 2, 2019. ACMSW independently reviewed the Project and issued a letter of requirements on March 26, 2020 that must be fulfilled prior to final Project approval. The requirements include the need for a targeted archaeological Historical Resources Impact Assessment (HRIA) of high potential landforms within the PDA. If deep sediments beyond the range of conventional shovel testing are encountered during the HRIA, a deep testing program is required. No paleontological assessment is required. ACMSW also noted that Aboriginal traditional use sites of an historic nature, recorded with O’Chiese First Nation (OCFN) are located in the vicinity of the Project area. ACMSW requires NGTL to notify OCFN about the Project and follow up with ACMSW for further direction on any response received. The notification will follow the Government of Alberta Guidelines on Consultation with First Nations on Land and Natural Resource Management, July 28, 2014. Further mitigative requirements could be issued based on the results of the HRIA and notification. An Historic Resources Application for the ABC Section and ABC Border MS Expansion was presented to ACMSW for their review on March 6, 2020. ACMSW independently reviewed the Project and issued a letter of requirements on April 6, 2020 that must be fulfilled prior to final Project approval. The requirements are for an HRIA for archaeology targeting all high potential landforms within the PDA and for an HRIA for palaeontology that targets the following locations:  S16 T8 R5 W5M  S17 T8 R5 W5M  S18 T8 R5 W5M

June 2020 Page 7 of 15

Attachment 17 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental Assessment Summary NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

Deep testing is required for any areas with deep sediment beyond the range of conventional shovel testing. Further mitigative requirements could be issued depending upon results.

HRIAs will be conducted in summer 2020 and HRIA Reports will be submitted to ACMSW for approval. NGTL will complete all conditions of approval issued under the HRA relative to the Project, including any required additional assessment, consultation, mitigation, construction monitoring and chance find notifications. Copies of the HRA letters of requirements received from ACMSW can be found in Attachment 20: HRA Clearance.

EV9: A Project-specific EPP has been developed for each of the Project components and will be available on site.

References ACIMS (Alberta Conservation Information Management System). 2017a. Element Occurrence Data. Available at: https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/management-land-use/alberta- conservation-information-management-system-acims/download-data/. Accessed October 2018. ACIMS. 2018. Tracking and Watch Lists. Available at: https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/management-land-use/alberta- conservation-information-management-system-acims/tracking-watch-lists/. Accessed October 2018. Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women (ACMSW). 2019. Listing of Historic Resources (Updated October 2019). Historic Resources Management Branch, Edmonton, AB. AEP (Alberta Environment and Parks). 2016. Alberta Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) Recovery Plan (Draft). Alberta Environment and Parks, Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 38. Edmonton Ab. 85 pp AEP. 2017a. Alberta Wild Species General Status Listing – 2015. Current to March 1, 2017. Available at: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/ad0cb45c-a885-4b5e-9479- 52969f220663/resource/763740c0-122e-467b-a0f5-a04724a9ecb9/download/sar- 2015wildspeciesgeneralstatuslist-mar2017.pdf. Accessed November 2019. AEP. 2019a. Access FWMIS Data: Fish & Wildlife Internet Mapping Tool (FWIMT). Available at: https://maps.alberta.ca/FWIMT_Pub/Viewer/?TermsOfUseRequired=true&Viewer=F WIMT_Pub. Accessed November 2019. AEP. 2019b. Wildlife Sensitivity Data Sets. Available at https://www.alberta.ca/wildlife- sensitivity-maps.aspx. Accessed November 2019.

Page 8 of 15 June 2020

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

AEP. 2019c. Code of Practice for Watercourse Crossings. Consolidated to include amendments as of March 8, 2019. Alberta Queen’s Printer, Edmonton, AB.

AEP. 2020. Access FWMIS Data: Fish & Wildlife Internet Mapping Tool (FWIMT). Available at: https://maps.alberta.ca/FWIMT_Pub/Viewer/?TermsOfUseRequired=true&Viewer=FWIMT_P ub. Accessed March 2020. Alberta Whitebark and Limber Pine Recovery Team. 2014. Alberta Whitebark Pine Recovery Plan 2013-2018. Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Alberta Species at Risk Recovery Plan No. 34. Edmonton, AB. 63 pp. Available at: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/45ceb67a-7b44-4beb-a5a4- 2b72a9b2e118/resource/05362a91-7f67-4af3-b8ea-e8e40f91a5dc/download/2014- sar-limberpine-recoveryplan-sep2014.pdf. Accessed January 2020. Andison. 2005. Natural Levels of Forest Age-class Variability on the RSDS Landscape of Alberta. Prepared for CEMA – Sustainable Ecosystems Working Goup. Available at: http://library.cemaonline.ca/ckan/dataset/8131d9a7-0ba6-46e9-9ace- ad546041d9a7/resource/d8e5092a-f23f-40cc-bc78- fa93496f13a3/download/natlevelsofforestageclassvariaonrsdslandscape.pdf. Accessed November 2018. ASRD and ACA (Alberta Sustainable Resource development and Alberta Conservation Association). 2006. Status of the Porsild’s bryum (Bryum porsildii) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Wildlife Status Report No. 59, Edmonton, AB. 30 pp. ASRD and ACA. 2007a. Status of the limber pine (Pinus flexilis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Wildlife Status Report No. 62, Edmonton, AB. 17 pp. ASRD and ACA. 2007b. Status of the Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Wildlife Status Report No. 63, Edmonton, AB. 22 pp. Bird Studies Canada and Nature Canada. 2019. Important Birds Areas Interactive Map. Available at: https://www.ibacanada.org/mapviewer.jsp?lang=EN. Accessed November 2019.

DFO (Fisheries and Oceans Canada). 2019. Measures to Protect Fish and Fish Habitat. Available at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pnw-ppe/measures-mesures-eng.html. Accessed: March 2020. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). 2017. Recovery Strategy for the Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) in Canada [Proposed]. Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy Series. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa. viii + 54 pp.

June 2020 Page 9 of 15

Attachment 17 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental Assessment Summary NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

ESRD (Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development). 2012a. Maps to the Codes of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body / Watercourse Crossings – Rocky Mountain House Management Area Map.

ESRD. 2012b. Maps to the Codes of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body / Watercourse Crossings – Pincher Creek Management Area Map.

ESRD (Environment and Sustainable Resource Development). 2013. Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Waterbody. Consolidated to include amendments as of June 24, 2013. Alberta Queen’s Printer, Edmonton, AB. GOA. 2017. Species Assessed by the Conservation Committee. Fish and Wildlife Policy Branch. Available at: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/0b3421d5-c6c1-46f9-ae98- 968065696054/resource/2eb5a538-3150-405a-98c7- 286131537305/download/species-assessed-conservation-2017-listing.pdf. Accessed November 2019. Accessed March 2020. Government of Canada (GOC). 2019a. Species at Risk Public Registry. Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public- registry.html. Accessed October 2019.

GOC. 2019b. Westslope Cutthroat Trout: recovery strategy and action plan, 2019 (proposed). Available at: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species- risk-public-registry/recovery/westslope-cutthroat-trout-2019-proposed.html. Accessed March 2020.

Page 10 of 15 June 2020

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

APPENDIX A: SUMMARY OF WATERCOURSE CROSSINGS FOR NGTL WEST PATH DELIVERY 2022

Table 1: Watercourses Crossed by the Raven River Section

Fish Habitat Evaluation Species Pipeline Vehicle Likelihood Mean Captured of HADD of Channel (Previously Primary Contingency Temporary Temporary Fish Habitat Crossing Watercourse Legal Width Sport Coarse Forage Documented SARA-listed COP Crossing Crossing Crossing Crossing or Death of ID Name Location (m) Fish Habitat Fish Fish Fish Fish Speciesa) Fish Species Classb COP RAPb Method Method Open Water Construction Mitigation Measures Fish WC-001.00 Unnamed SW-20- > 5 m Upstream of the Poor Poor Good brook stickleback None C September 16 Isolated open Trenchless Clear-span Clear-span Applicable DFO Measures to Unlikely Tributary to 35-6- PDA the unnamed (no historical documented to April 15 cut if water bridge bridge or Protect Fish and Fish Habitat Beaver Creek W5M tributary has surveys) present / snowfill/ice will be followed (DFO 2019) defined bed and open cut if bridge Mitigation measures related to banks. Within the dry or frozen pipeline and temporary access PDA and to bottom crossings described in the downstream, the Project EPP will be followed, unnamed tributary and activities within and near becomes a large water will be carried out wetland complex following the requirements of that has extensive the respective COPs for pooled water and pipeline and temporary access multiple deep watercourses crossings (ESRD channels that flow 2013; AEP 2019c) into a permanent open water area. If flowing, conduct fish salvage, At centreline and in accordance with permit within the PDA conditions, using appropriate there are poorly methods and equipment. defined bed and Release all captured fish to banks. Substrate areas downstream of the is composed crossing that provide suitable entirely of fine habitat material. Where instream construction Dissolved oxygen within the RAP occurs and was 0.79 mg/L. approval from the responsible regulatory authority is obtained, the following measures will be implemented: requirements within the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body (ESRD 2013) will be followed, including: during those periods of time within a restricted activity period, when fish are spawning or migrating, an isolation method must not be used for longer than three consecutive days, unless upstream and downstream fish migration is accommodated specifications and recommendations from a qualified aquatic environment specialist will be provided prior to construction

June 2020 Page 11 of 15

Attachment 17 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental Assessment Summary NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

Table 1: Watercourses Crossed by the Raven River Section (cont’d)

Fish Habitat Evaluation Species Pipeline Vehicle Likelihood Mean Captured of HADD of Channel (Previously Primary Contingency Temporary Temporary Fish Habitat Crossing Watercourse Legal Width Sport Coarse Forage Documented SARA-listed COP Crossing Crossing Crossing Crossing or Death of ID Name Location (m) Fish Habitat Fish Fish Fish Fish Speciesa) Fish Species Classb COP RAPb Method Method Open Water Construction Mitigation Measures Fish WC-002.00 Raven River SE 35- 5.86 Bank erosion was Good Good Good N/A None C September 16 Isolated open Trenchless Clear-span Clear-span Applicable DFO Measures to Unlikely 035-7 present along in (brook trout; documented to April 15 cut if water bridge bridge or Protect Fish and Fish Habitat W5M sections along the brown trout; present / snowfill/ice will be followed (DFO 2019) assessed reach mountain open cut if bridge Mitigation measures related to due to cow whitefish; dry or frozen pipeline and temporary access activity. The rainbow trout; to bottom crossings described in the watercourse spoonhead Project EPP will be followed, contained multiple sculpin; white and activities within and near pools with woody sucker) water will be carried out debris cover and following the requirements of suitable depths the respective COPs for (0.8 m to 1.1 m pipeline and temporary access range) for watercourses crossings (ESRD overwintering. 2013; AEP 2019c) There were also portions of the Conduct fish salvage, in watercourse with accordance with permit both instream conditions, using appropriate woody debris and methods and equipment. overhanging Release all captured fish to woody debris that areas downstream of the provide good crossing that provide suitable cover for fish. habitat Good spawning Where instream construction gravels with within the RAP occurs and staging pools approval from the responsible were identified regulatory authority is obtained, downstream of the following measures will be centreline. implemented: a water quality monitoring plan will be developed to monitor for sediment events during instream construction activities, where required by the applicable regulatory approvals or as identified by an Aquatic Resource Specialist; and requirements within the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body (ESRD 2013) will be followed, including: during those periods of time within a restricted activity period, when fish are spawning or migrating, an isolation method must not be used for longer than three consecutive days, unless upstream and downstream fish migration is accommodated

Page 12 of 15 June 2020

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

Table 1: Watercourses Crossed by the Raven River Section (cont’d)

June 2020 Page 13 of 15

Attachment 17 NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Environmental Assessment Summary NGTL West Path Delivery 2022

Table 2: Watercourses Crossed by the ABC Section

Fish Habitat Evaluation Species Pipeline Vehicle Likelihood Captured of HADD of Mean (Previously Temporary Fish Channel Documented Primary Contingency Crossing Temporary Habitat or Crossing Watercourse Legal Width Sport Coarse Forage Fish SARA-listed COP Crossing Crossing Open Crossing Death of ID Name Location (m) Fish Habitat Fish Fish Fish Speciesa) Fish Species Classb COP RAPb Method Method Water Construction Mitigation Measures Fish WC-001.00 Unnamed NE 10- TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD To be None B May 15 to Isolated open Trenchless Clear-span Clear-span Applicable DFO Measures to Protect Unlikely Tributary to 008- completed in documented July 15 and cut if water bridge bridge or Fish and Fish Habitat will be followed Crowsnest 5W5M 2020 September present / open snowfill/ice (DFO 2019) River (no historical 1 to April 5 cut if dry or bridge Mitigation measures related to surveys) frozen to pipeline and temporary access bottom crossings described in the Project EPP will be followed, and activities within and near water will be carried out following the requirements of the respective COPs for pipeline and temporary access watercourses crossings (ESRD 2013; AEP 2019) If flowing, conduct fish salvage, in accordance with permit conditions, using appropriate methods and equipment. Release all captured fish to areas downstream of the crossing that provide suitable habitat Where instream construction within the RAP occurs and approval from the responsible regulatory authority is obtained, the following measures will be implemented: following field surveys, if potential spawning habitat is rated moderate to good, then a water quality monitoring plan will be developed to monitor for sediment events during instream construction activities, where required by the applicable regulatory approvals or as identified by an Aquatic Resource Specialist; and requirements within the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body (ESRD 2013) will be followed, including: during those periods of time within a restricted activity period, when fish are spawning or migrating, an isolation method must not be used for longer than three consecutive days, unless upstream and downstream fish migration is accommodated specifications and recommendations from a qualified aquatic environment specialist will be provided prior to construction

Page 14 of 15 June 2020

NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Attachment 17 NGTL West Path Delivery 2022 Environmental Assessment Summary

Table 2: Watercourses Crossed by the ABC Section (cont’d)

Fish Habitat Evaluation Species Pipeline Vehicle Likelihood Captured of HADD of Mean (Previously Temporary Fish Channel Documented Primary Contingency Crossing Temporary Habitat or Crossing Watercourse Legal Width Sport Coarse Forage Fish SARA-listed COP Crossing Crossing Open Crossing Death of ID Name Location (m) Fish Habitat Fish Fish Fish Speciesa) Fish Species Classb COP RAPb Method Method Water Construction Mitigation Measures Fish WC-002.00 Unnamed SW 16- 0.8 Channel was dry None None None Dry at time of None C May 1 to Isolated open Trenchless Clear-span Clear-span Applicable DFO Measures to Protect Unlikely Tributary to 008-5 at the time of assessment documented August 15 cut if water bridge bridge or Fish and Fish Habitat will be followed Crowsnest W5M assessment (no historical present / open snowfill/ice (DFO 2019) Lake surveys) cut if dry or bridge Mitigation measures related to frozen to pipeline and temporary access bottom crossings described in the Project EPP will be followed, and activities within and near water will be carried out following the requirements of the respective COPs for pipeline and temporary access watercourses crossings (ESRD 2013; AEP 2019) If flowing, conduct fish salvage, in accordance with permit conditions, using appropriate methods and equipment. Release all captured fish to areas downstream of the crossing that provide suitable habitat Where instream construction within the RAP occurs and approval from the responsible regulatory authority is obtained, the following measures will be implemented: requirements within the Code of Practice for Pipelines and Telecommunication Lines Crossing a Water Body (ESRD 2013) will be followed, including: during those periods of time within a restricted activity period, when fish are spawning or migrating, an isolation method must not be used for longer than three consecutive days, unless upstream and downstream fish migration is accommodated specifications and recommendations from a qualified aquatic environment specialist will be provided prior to construction NOTES: a Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP; 2020) b Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD; 2012b); ESRD (2013)

June 2020 Page 15 of 15