Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Section 49.0 Trans Mountain Expansion Project Environmental Net Benefits Reply Evidence OH-001-2014 49.0 ENVIRONMENTAL NET BENEFITS 1 As indicated in the PCA written evidence, Trans Mountain is committed to reviewing net benefit 2 ideas presented by the PCA as a result of the potential impacts of the proposed reactivation 3 activities in Jasper National Park. Activities that cannot be fully mitigated or areas restored in 4 accordance with the agreed to Management Objectives and Desired End Results will be 5 reviewed in the context of net benefit opportunities. One of the net benefits arising from 6 construction of the TMX Anchor Loop Project in Jasper National Park from 2006 to 2008 was 7 the automation of specific main line block valves on the legacy pipeline, which will occur as part 8 of the reactivation activities for the Trans Mountain Expansion Project. At the time, this was 9 considered to be a key benefit to PCA and would be realized should the TMEP proceed. 10 Furthermore, in Trans Mountain’s response to NEB IR No. 2.042 (Filing ID A3Z4T9), one of the 11 goals of the Project is to mitigate the loss of native biodiversity and integrity of ecosystems in 12 the regions of the four British Columbia provincial parks and one recreation area through which 13 the pipeline corridor would pass. The Project shall strive to produce a net benefit to native 14 biodiversity and ecological integrity in those regions. Trans Mountain proposes to identify and 15 undertake an offset project, or a suite of projects, in order to produce a measurable ecological 16 benefit of a comparable nature and extent, so as to result in no net loss of native biodiversity 17 and ecological integrity on a regional basis. 18 The BC parks and protected areas crossed by the proposed pipeline have established 19 management plans. Several of these parks have management plans that focus on recreational 20 enjoyment. As part of the NEB IR No. 3.037a (Filing ID A4H1V2) and as described in 21 Section 4.0 in Tab A, B, C and D of the Stage 2 Detailed Proposal submitted to BC Parks, 22 Ministry of Environment, Trans Mountain identified net benefits and offset opportunities within 23 the protected areas through its stakeholder engagement process which included park-specific 24 workshops, various stakeholder meetings and informal conversations. 25 Trans Mountain has further refined its response to NEB IR No. 3.037a (Filing ID A4H1V2) and 26 puts forward the following net benefit proposals and considerations for each of the protected 27 areas traversed, if the Stage 2 Detailed Proposal is approved contingent on Project approval 28 from the NEB. 49.1 Finn Creek Provincial Park 29 Participants of the Parks Workshop were asked to identify key ideas and prioritize benefits to 30 the park that they believed were the most important. Ideas that were considered to be high 31 priorities focused on helping BC Parks manage the use of the park which included: 32 · Restoration of the former rest area that is unused at the edge of Finn Creek to 33 a natural area; and 34 · Placing signage on the pipeline right-of-way to notify park users of appropriate 35 off-road vehicles of its use. August 2015 Page 49-1 Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Section 49.0 Trans Mountain Expansion Project Environmental Net Benefits Reply Evidence OH-001-2014 1 Restoration of Decommissioned Rest Area 2 Value: $85,000 3 Participants at the Finn Creek Parks Workshop noted that the decommissioned rest area, which 4 is a currently an asphalt pad at the edge of Finn Creek has been misused by recreationalists, 5 and posed a public safety issue. Parks Workshop participants would like to see the area 6 reclaimed to a natural area. Trans Mountain supports this benefit and is committed to restoring 7 this area, thereby increasing the conservational value of the Park. Restoration efforts for this 8 area would include the removal of asphalt pad, revegetation of disturbed land including the use 9 of native seed, shrubs, and trees up to a value of $85,000. 10 Signage to Enhance Park Use 11 Value: $25,000 12 Stakeholders also requested the installation of signage to explain appropriate recreational uses 13 within the park. In cooperation with BC Parks, Trans Mountain will develop and install signage 14 (value up to $25,000) to help manage and educate the public on permitted off-road vehicle use 15 in the park and along the existing TMPL right-of-way to enhance appropriate recreational use of 16 the area. 49.2 North Thompson River Provincial Park 17 North Thompson River Provincial Park has multiple park values including conservation, 18 recreation, and cultural heritage. The park conserves the river riparian habitat as well as an 19 important example of the IDFmw2 subzone/variant that is only captured in 4% of the Province. 20 The park attracts visitors to its campground, riverside picnic areas, playground, and hiking trails 21 as well as protects the locally significant cultural heritage and archaeology sites. 22 · The benefit priorities identified by participants in the Parks Workshop for North 23 Thompson River Provincial Park included trail and park facility upgrades; 24 · Park education and enhancements; 25 · Invasive vegetation control or invasive species management programs; and 26 · Access road upgrades. 27 Trail and Park Facility Upgrades 28 Value: $250,000 29 Stakeholders requested upgrades to trails and infrastructure to enhance public use within the 30 park. North Thompson River Provincial Park encourages public use in all seasons, and 31 construction and reclamation of the Project will restrict the use of the right-of-way within the park 32 for a period of time. Trans Mountain has committed to enhancing the trails and/or providing 33 infrastructure upgrades, such as picnicking facilities, in the park, up to a value of $250,000. 34 Trans Mountain will work with BC Parks, First Nations, and other park users to identify ways to 35 enhance trails and facilities in the park. August 2015 Page 49-2 Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Section 49.0 Trans Mountain Expansion Project Environmental Net Benefits Reply Evidence OH-001-2014 1 Park Education and Enhancements 2 Value: $50,000 3 Day users of North Thompson River Provincial Park frequently request First Nation information 4 and interpretative information within the park. Trans Mountain is committed to providing 5 opportunities and engaging in partnerships with Aboriginal groups with interests in the parks to 6 develop and install interpretive signage on First Nation history, traditional knowledge, and use of 7 the park area to generate interest and honor the Aboriginal history and culture in this area. 8 Information kiosks and interpretive programs would be designed in collaboration with First 9 Nations and BC Parks for a value up to $50,000. 10 Invasive Vegetation Control 11 Value: $50,000 12 Participants in the Parks Workshop for North Thompson River Provincial Park requested 13 support for invasive vegetation management programs within the park. Trans Mountain will 14 provide funding up to $50,000 for BC Parks to enter into possible partnerships with BC Ministry 15 of Transportation, local First Nations or other contractors in order to conduct an invasive species 16 survey and implement weed control in the park. Invasive species management will assist in 17 returning vegetation cover to a more natural state. 18 Park Access Road Upgrades 19 Value: $400,000 20 Trans Mountain, through the collaboration with BC Parks will upgrade and leave all roads used 21 to access the park during construction in a better condition than they were before construction, 22 for a value of up to $400,000. Access road upgrades will help improve public safety and facility 23 access. 49.3 Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area 24 The Lac du Bois Grasslands Protected Area fulfills a very important conservation role in 25 representing the Thompson Basin and Northern Thompson Uplands Ecosystems. The protected 26 area contains a notable diversity of grasslands and forest types, soils, and cultural uses. 27 Benefit priorities identified through multiple stakeholder meetings and workshops include: 28 · Reclamation of the Telus fibre optic right-of-way; 29 · Reclamation of protected area trial or areas damaged by off-road vehicles; 30 · Reduction of unauthorized off-road vehicles and mountain bike activity; 31 · Invasive vegetation survey and management; and 32 · Signage/promotion to enhance cultural and grassland awareness in the 33 protected area. August 2015 Page 49-3 Trans Mountain Pipeline (ULC) Section 49.0 Trans Mountain Expansion Project Environmental Net Benefits Reply Evidence OH-001-2014 1 As set out in Trans Mountain’s response to NEB IR No. 3037a (Filing ID A4H1V2), Trans 2 Mountain is proposing to use leading science and advance industry best practices to achieve 3 the best possible results in re-establishing grassland ecosystems that could potentially be 4 affected by the Project. Through the Environmental Stewardship Program, Trans Mountain will 5 seek opportunities and partnerships to expand knowledge in grassland reclamation science, 6 materials, and application techniques to restore grasslands affected by the Project’s 7 construction activities. 8 Reclamation of the Telus Fibre Optic Right-of-Way 9 Value: $900,000 10 Trans Mountain has committed to meet BC Park’s request to use native grass species with a 11 suitable genome for revegetation of the Project construction disturbances within Lac du Bois 12 Grasslands Protected Area. In addition, stakeholders have consistently requested the 13 restoration of the Telus Fibre Optic right-of-way with native grass seed. In an effort to meet the 14 request of BC Parks, Trans Mountain has engaged the local Tk’emlups te Secwépemc 15 community through the Tk’emlups Forestry Development Corporation (TFDC).