Emergency Preparedness

One way of measuring a company’s performance regarding emergency threats or risks is to observe how it reacts when an actual emergency occurs. To be truly effective, we ensure that we have an appropriate emergency response infrastructure in place and that emergency preparedness plans are optimized.

Our emergency and crisis preparedness plans are designed to minimize the impact of an incident and verify we comply with regulatory requirements. In addition, employees throughout our business units participate in regular emergency response drills and simulations to test and improve procedures. All our operating facilities maintain regular contact with communities and first responder organizations to keep them up to date and coordinated with Enbridge’s contingency plans.

Our performance

Conducting emergency response exercises

We conducted about 190 emergency response exercises in Canada and the United States in 2005. These ranged from tabletop exercises, where employees discussed responses to various scenarios, to full-scale deployment exercises with local emergency agencies, using equipment to practice recovery and cleanup in various terrains.

Cross-border emergency response

Because Liquids Pipelines operates a system that originates in Canada and transports liquid petroleum products to the United States, it is essential that we be prepared for cross-border emergency response activities. In some cases, our emergency response personnel stationed in Canada may be able to respond more quickly to an emergency condition in the northern-most United States portion of the pipeline system than their United States counterparts. In consideration of this, emergency responders stationed in Gretna, Manitoba, conducted a border-crossing exercise in early 2006 at the Pembina Port of Entry into North Dakota. The exercise was successful in large part due to the development of an effective channel of communication between Enbridge and the United States Pembina Port Authority. Findings from this exercise are being used to develop a general cross-border protocol that will be tested at other United States ports of entry in 2006.

Unannounced emergency exercises

Conducting field exercises is an important component of pre-emergency preparedness. In 2005, Liquids Pipelines carried out several significant exercises whereby prior knowledge of the scenario was not communicated to the responders. This adds an increased level of realism and can be beneficial in determining opportunities for improvement during the exercise review. For example, in the United States, we conducted a large-scale exercise in Michigan that involved three emergency response crews. External resources including local police, fire department, local authorities and regulators were present. In Canada, we conducted a major scenario involving a natural gas liquids release near Edmonton. Internal and external resources were included and a town hall meeting was held afterwards with local authorities to discuss the exercise.

Emergency exercise in Ontario

Enbridge Gas Distribution joined other companies and several external agencies – the RCMP, Natural Resources Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Energy, and Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator – for a simulated exercise dealing with a terrorist threat to the companies and their critical infrastructure. From our point of view, the primary purpose of the exercise was to ascertain whether the existing communications protocols we have in place would be adequate for the type of collaboration with governments that would be necessary to respond to and mitigate the potential impacts on the community and essential markets. The exercise proved useful in understanding the roles and assistance that the governments could provide and what these agencies would require from Enbridge.

Emergency preparedness in Canada’s north

Enbridge’s operations in Canada’s north took an active role in two emergency response exercises in 2005:

  • Our Northern Region participated in the preliminary phase of Operation Narwhal, an exercise involving the Canadian and United States military, the RCMP, the National Energy Board, territorial governments and the private sector to practice an integrated response to several emergency scenarios in Canada’s north including a terrorist threat to the energy sector, a health threat and a major air disaster. The tabletop exercise was designed to initiate discussions and exchange information amongst the parties involved in preparation for live exercises scheduled for 2007.
  • Inuvik Gas Ltd., in which Enbridge has a 33 per cent interest, participated in an intense, live emergency exercise in Inuvik in which the company played a central role. The scenario involved the collision of a light aircraft and a passenger jet that resulted in the light plane crashing into an Inuvik Gas distribution line. Organized by the Northwest Territories’ Department of Transportation, the exercise involved 250 people including representatives from federal and local governments, police and the private sector. The exercise helped raise awareness of all the participants and identified ways to improve response and emergency plans.