Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project

Presentation by Jeff Green, Steve Jasper and Linda Postlewaite

Environmental Management Association of B.C.

February 20, 2014

Overview

1 The Project

2 Regulatory Process

3 Challenges

4 Environmental Management and Protection

5 Closing Thoughts

Northern Gateway

One of the Largest Infrastructure Projects in Canada.

1

Enbridge Northern Gateway Project

• 1170 km long twin pipeline from Alberta to Kitimat British Columbia

• 36” oil pipe carries 525,000 bbls/d west• 20” condensate pipe carries 193,000 BBLs/d

east• Pipeline includes multiple pump stations,

associated power lines, and access roads• Pipeline also includes two 13 m diameter bored

tunnels with a combined length of 14 km• Pipeline ends at a 19 tank land terminal in

Kitimat• Marine berth will handle Suezmax to VLCC

tankers• Primary markets are Asia and western USA

Specialized Pipeline Aspects

• Routing• Tunnels to avoid difficult terrain• Use of thick walled pipe• Use of shut-off valves at major watercourse

crossings• Variable depth burial relative to integrity risk• Use of containment structures in some areas• Regular smart pig inspection

Kitimat Terminal

7

Marine Transportation Routes

Marine Transportation• Approximately 440 ship

transits/year • Double hulled tankers• Laden vessels escorted by

tethered tugs (CCAA)• All vessels have separate tug

escort• New navigation systems and

aids

Regulatory Process2

Regulatory Drivers

National Energy Board (NEB) Acto Inter-provincial pipelineo Export of hydrocarbons

Canadian Environmental Assessment Acto Law List (DFO, NEB, Transport Canada)

Referral under Section 25 of CEAA to a Joint Review Panel (JRP): 2 members from the NEB 1 member from CEA Agency

JRP for Northern Gateway

Ken Bateman Sheila Leggett Hans Matthews

Schedule and Milestones

Schedule and Milestones cont’d• JRP Decision Report issued on 19

December 2013• The JRP recommended approval of the

Project subject to 209 conditions; specifically the JRP stated:

“We have concluded that the project would be in the public interest. We find the project’s potential benefits for Canada and Canadians outweigh the potential burdens and risks.”

Next Steps• Federal government now has 180 days to

decide if it will accept the NEB’s recommendation.

• During early 2014, CEA Agency will consult with First Nations on the JRP recommendations and conditions

• Governor in Council can request that the JRP reconsider its recommendation or any of its terms or conditions.

• If directed by GC, the NEB will issue a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity.

• The final conditions will form part of the CPCN.

Next Steps• Once the CPCN is issued, NGP will still

have to file and seek approval on a very large number of permits pertaining to:• Land tenure• Clearing and construction• Environmental protection, mitigation and

compensation

• Many of these will require consultation with Aboriginal groups and directly affected stakeholders (e.g., land owners, trappers, guides)

TERMPOL

• Transport Canada process for marine terminals and transportation

• Completed process voluntarily by May 2011

• Accepted and approved by Transport Canada

• TERMPOL documents submitted as supporting document to ESA

Challenges3

Challenges

• Terrestrial Environment• 5 ecozones from Alberta

to coastal BC• Different terrain and

ecosystems

• Marine Environment• Unprecedented scope:

Territorial Sea of Canada (inside channels and sounds as well as open water)

• Diverse marine ecosystem

• Multiple users

Challenges• Aboriginal Political Landscape• Over 50 Aboriginal Communities along pipeline• ~10 Aboriginal Communities with coastal interests• Virtually no treaties in British Columbia except Treaty 8• Rights and title for most groups not legally defined

• ENGO Heavy Oil Campaign• US and Canada campaign to shut down oil sands• Focus on stopping any new shipping options• Tied to stopping oil sands use in US

• Media• Large size & profile led to substantial media attention• Sensationalist approach by some• Difficult to get balanced and impartial views on real science

Challenges• Accidents and

Malfunctions• Exxon Valdez (1989)

coupled with BC ferry sinking in CCAA (2010) created specter of catastrophic marine spill

• Debate further intensified by:• BP Macondo blowout • Enbridge’s spill of heavy

oil in the Kalamazoo River • Pipeline spills in Fort

McMurray and NWT

Environmental Effects and Mitigation

4

Key Concerns: Pipelines

• Fish Habitat• Rare plants and

communities • Wetlands• Caribou habitat• Grizzly bear habitat• SARA species• Traditional land use• Oil spills

Pipeline Mitigation and Compensation• Routing• SWAT• Trenchless Water Crossings• Construction in Least Risk

Period• Fish Habitat Compensation• Wetland Functional

Assessment and Compensation

• Caribou Habitat Restoration and Compensation

• Grizzly Bear Habitat and Linear Feature Removal

• Specialized measures :• Trumpeter Swans• Coastal Tailed Frog

Pipeline Oil Spill Planning and Readiness• Tiered pipeline

response plan• Tactical watercourse

plans• Regional response

capability• Local response

personnel• Training and exercises• Local equipment caches

• Environmental benchmarking

Key Concerns: Marine

• Air Emissions from Vessels

• Vessel Wake• Fish Habitat (at terminal)• Marine Mammals

• Vessel strike risk• Underwater Noise

• Marine Fisheries• Traditional Marine

Use• Oil spills

Marine Mitigation and Compensation

• North American Emissions Control Zones (low sulfur fuels)

• Vessel speed reductions• 8-10 knots summer• 10-12 knots winter• Reduces strike risk, underwater

noise and wake

• Whale spotting vessel• Passive acoustic monitoring• Commitment to long-term

programs:• Marine mammals• Marine Birds

• Marine Fish Habitat Compensation

• Fisheries Liaison Committee

Marine Oil Spill Planning and Readiness

• Tiered marine spill response plans• Geographic response plans• Environmental sensitivity atlases• Regional response capability

• Substantially exceed Transport Canada requirements• Local response personnel• Training and exercises• Equipment caches

• Environmental benchmarking• Harvest Studies• Marine Environmental Effects Monitoring• Fisheries Surveys

Closing Thoughts5

Considerations for Managers• Complex and long regulatory review process• Public understanding of operations, issues and

solutions• Power of the media• Social license• Unprecedented scope of mitigation and

compensation• Spill response

• Risk communication

Questions?