Our Performance

Mapping pipelines for species at risk

In Canada, some of our liquids pipelines are regulated under the Species at Risk Act, which provides legal protection of wildlife species and the conservation of biological diversity. We first mapped our Canadian mainline system in 2004, using digital mapping technology, to identify areas along parts of our right-of-way where there may be species at risk. We then consolidated this information into a database tool that enables safety and environment staff to identify sensitive wildlife habitat at specific locations before we undertake smaller projects or pipeline maintenance digs. In 2006, we carried out supplemental mapping of our pipelines in our eastern region to produce an atlas that identifies not only species at risk but also all environmentally sensitive areas. We will use the atlas as an operations and maintenance planning tool.

In the United States, a number of our mainline segments have digital data regarding threatened or endangered species on or near our right-of-way, and maintenance activities are reviewed and planned to include appropriate avoidance measures or restrictions.

Managing vegetation

Vegetation management activities at our facilities and on our right-of-ways centre on environmental stewardship and using the most environmentally appropriate and economical vegetation management methods to generate the greatest long-term benefit. Our comprehensive vegetation management plans and procedures stipulate that the visible results and perceived impacts of vegetation management activities on adjacent landowners and the general public must be considered when those activities are being planned and implemented. It also stresses that “botanical, biological, mechanical, or physical means of vegetation control should be considered prior to the use of herbicides” and provides specific guidelines in cases where herbicides are used.

Protecting and restoring habitats and waterways

In the United States, the environmental assessment we conducted before starting the expansion of our East Texas natural gas system showed our construction activities would result in the loss of some wetland areas. In line with regulatory guidelines, our aim was to more than offset this damage either by preserving or restoring wetlands. In this case, we made an arrangement with a private third party to restore 230 hectares (566 acres) of wetlands in Texas. Through this arrangement, Enbridge paid the third party to perpetually deed-restrict the property as wetland, restore the wetland through replanting and monitor its return to an active wetland area. As a result, we will restore considerably more wetlands than were lost through the pipeline construction.

Even though we had the wetland credits necessary to offset impacts of this large construction project, we chose in many areas where it was practical to directionally drill under or re-route around environmentally sensitive areas in order to minimize or eliminate impacts.  By using directional drilling in 20 planned or completed drills in East Texas, we are avoiding impacts to approximately 90 acres of lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, wetlands, forests and cultural sites.  We have completely avoided impacts within the Big Thicket National Preserve, which is one of the most biologically diverse areas in North America, and partially avoided impacts to the Sandyland Sanctuary, which is part of a comprehensive effort to protect and restore the longleaf pine ecosystem on the West Gulf Coastal Plain.

Enbridge is committed to protecting the environmental integrity of waterways in and around its operations.

In 2006, Liquids Pipelines completed the restoration of three riverbank areas in Ontario where its pipelines are located.

• Working in conjunction with Parks Canada, we have restored 25 metres (80 feet) of riverbank on the historic Rideau Canal waterway, the oldest continuously operated canal in North America, in an area where our pipeline crosses the canal north of Kingston. We put in large rocks to protect the banks from waves, landscaped the banks, and planted shrubs to preserve soil from erosion. We completed the work in late 2005 and monitored the area in 2006 to ensure its success.
• We have restored a 20-metre (66-foot) section of the banks of Hager Creek that is located in a green space in the City of Burlington. Our pipeline crossed above the creek, the banks of which had eroded over the years. Residential housing was starting to encroach on the area and we were concerned about leaving the pipe exposed. With approval from the city, we installed a culvert under our pipe for the creek to flow through, covered the pipe with soil overlain with large stones to protect it, and then restored and stabilized the steep banks of the creek with erosion control blankets and very specific vegetation to prevent future erosion.
• Erosion had exposed pipe at three locations on Joshua Creek in Oakville, Ontario. It is believed the creek’s flow pattern changed sometime after Hurricane Hazel hit the Toronto area with devastating force in 1954. Following public consultation, we realigned 130 metres (425 feet) of the creek to its pre-1950 location. We then monitored the creek and reworked several areas to ensure it was following its natural flow pattern. In January 2007, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans advised us that the monitoring period had been sufficient and no additional repairs or further monitoring of the creek are required.