TransCanada鈥檚 Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project has recently sent a letter to the Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako (RDBN), responding to some of the concerns raised by the RDBN with regard to pipeline construction.

The RDBN had sent a letter to the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission last November expressing several concerns about the proposed pipeline, which would travel through an area south of 亚洲天堂 Lake.

READ MORE: Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako continues to raise LNG pipeline concerns

These concerns include emergency response, commitments to local hiring, wood fibre utilization, spread of invasive plants, and the way the company handles public complaints.

No specific emergency response plan yet

According to Kiel Giddens, Coastal GasLink鈥檚 regional manager of public affairs, Coastal GasLink cannot provide specific emergency response plans until contracts are in place with their prime contractors.

He says Coastal GasLink will be utilizing 鈥渆xperienced and qualified鈥� prime contractors, who will be responsible to develop comprehensive emergency response plans.

鈥淭hese plans must include various emergency situations and scenarios and identify procedures and resources required to isolate, control and manage emergencies,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he prime contractors will typically be self-sufficient for all but major emergencies.鈥�

鈥淐oastal Gaslink and our prime contractors will work with local organizations as soon as possible when they have the appropriate information to do so,鈥� he added.

In addition, TransCanada has an emergency management program that includes corporate, operations and project related areas.

鈥淭he program is routinely reviewed and revised as necessary and is tested through drills on an ongoing basis,鈥� said Giddens. 鈥淲hen activated, this program assembles subject matter experts in various disciplines to ensure the appropriate resources are engaged to mitigate the emergency as effectively and expeditiously as possible.鈥�

Local hiring commitments

With regard to local contracting, Giddens says in the letter to the RDBN that Coastal Gaslink goes 鈥渂eyond the industry standard.鈥� However, he does commit to a number or percentage for local hiring.

鈥淲e are currently working closely with our leading contractors on their labour strategies. These strategies include advanced work and planning with the unions to ensure that Aboriginal and local people in northern B.C. have preferential hiring,鈥� he said.

鈥淭he project continues to connect with businesses and individuals at chamber events, business forums, and job fairs across northern B.C.,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hroughout these efforts, we have been collecting local vendor information through our vendor databases, and will be sharing this information with our contractors.鈥�

鈥淐oastal GasLink plans to notify communities when our prime contractors are selected, and we will tour the region with our contractors to promote both local contracting and local employment through networking opportunities,鈥� he added.

Wood fiber utilization

Giddens said the project鈥檚 environmental assessment certificate conditions Coastal GasLink to develop a 鈥渢imber salvage strategy,鈥� which is about minimizing the volume of waste timber.

The strategy also describes mitigation to avoid and minimize the spread of forest pests such as the spruce beetle during timber management and hauling.

鈥淚nfested timber will not be transported during critical times to avoid distributing forest pests into new geographic areas,鈥� he said. 鈥淧est infestation monitoring and stand evaluation of risk will be ongoing to ensure Coastal GasLink activities have not created conditions for forest pest spread.鈥�

Spread of invasive plants

According to Giddens, the project鈥檚 environmental assessment certificate also conditions the development of an 鈥渋nvasive plants management plan,鈥� which was developed with consultation from government agencies, Aboriginal groups and stakeholders.

鈥淭he primary objective is to prevent the introduction of noxious and invasive plants to project sites, but also to manage weeds discovered during monitoring activities throughout construction, reclamation and operations,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he plan also provides details on alternative methods of weed control, avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides.鈥�

He adds that Coastal GasLink and the Northwest Invasive Plant Council (NWIPC) have discussed potential opportunities for partnership.

鈥淐oastal Gaslink plans further discussions with NWIPC on sharing database information and potential opportunities during the construction phase.鈥�

Handling public complaints

According to Giddens, Coastal GasLink takes all public concerns seriously, and takes responsibility for answering questions related to their project.

鈥淐oastal GasLink takes accountability for responding, documenting and tracking issues as part of the regulatory reporting process,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he project email address and public phone number are available to contact us at any time, along with public affairs, indigenous relations, and land staff who regularly engage with landowners, stakeholders and Aboriginal groups.鈥�

In addition, Coastal GasLink plans to hire additional public affairs staff if a final investment decision is reached.

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