National Energy Board Issues three Inspection Officer Orders to Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast Energy Inc.)

CALGARY, Sept. 18, 2017 /CNW/ – The National Energy Board (NEB) has issued three Inspection Officer Orders (Orders) to Westcoast Energy Inc., carrying on business as Spectra Energy Transmission (Westcoast) for the company’s failure to adhere to worker safety, pipe handling and environmental protection requirements during construction activity on the High Pine Expansion Project near Chetwynd, British Columbia.

The new pipeline poses no immediate environmental or public safety concerns.

The NEB Orders were issued on August 24, August 27, and September 13, respectively.

NEB Inspection Officers conducting field inspections observed the following non-compliance matters: unsafe pipe handling, failure to construct bridges over water courses according to specification; failure to protect Riparian Management Areas (environmentally-sensitive areas that occur next to the banks of streams, lakes, and wetlands) from disturbance; and, inadequate sediment, and erosion control measures at all water course crossings.

Additionally, NEB Inspection Officers directed the company to complete 2 specific measures to improve worker safety and environmental protection. These include:

• investigate unsafe pipe handling activities,
• assess the adequacy of the High Pine Expansion project oversight, and
• immediately cease travel on all bridges and ramps that span two watercourses; and
• submit, for NEB review, company action plans to address management of construction activities.

The NEB takes safety and environmental protection seriously and will not hesitate to take enforcement action regulatory non-compliance. The NEB will closely monitor company compliance with the Inspection Officer Orders.

Quick Facts

• The High Pine Expansion project was approved for construction in August, 2016. The pipeline moves 240 million cubic feet of natural gas per day to the British Columbia Lower Mainland and into the United States.
• In 2016, the NEB issued 219 enforcement actions against regulated companies.
• In 2016 NEB Field Inspectors completed 187 pipeline inspections.
• The NEB proactively posts its enforcement actions to its external website to keep the public informed.

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