Environmental GRI Performance Indicators
EN11 – Location and size of land owned, leased, managed in, or adjacent to, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas.
EN12 – Description of significant impacts of activities, products, and services on biodiversity in protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas.
EN13 – Habitats protected or restored.
EN14 – Strategies, current actions, and future plans for managing impacts on biodiversity.
EN15 – Number of IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations, by level of extinction risk.
We view biodiversity conservation as an important part of responsible environmental management, and routinely incorporate ways to conserve wildlife habitat into our project planning and maintenance activities.
We always carry out detailed environmental impact assessments for our new pipeline projects, not only to comply with regulations, but also to meet our own standards, which often exceed regulatory requirements. These assessments include reviewing potential routing alternatives to avoid, minimize, or mitigate our impact on sensitive areas.
After consulting with natural resource management agencies, we may, for example, determine that minor alignment changes to a pipeline could eliminate or greatly reduce short- and long-term construction impacts. For past projects, measures such as this have enabled us to protect old-growth pines, and avoid disturbing sensitive wetlands and endangered species habitats.
We also evaluate water-crossings on a case-by-case basis to minimize impacts to rivers and streams. We incorporate environmental construction procedures into all sizes of projects and provide related training or guidelines to employees and contractors.
Our Performance
Mapping pipelines for species at risk
In Canada, our Liquids Pipelines business is regulated under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), which aims to protect wildlife species and conserve 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. We will undertake periodic reviews to ensure that the atlas is current, and plan to undertake the next update in 2009.
In the U.S., a number of our mainline segments have digital data regarding threatened or endangered species that are protected under the Endangered Species Act. As well, when we undertake major construction or maintenance activities, we incorporate appropriate avoidance measures or restrictions. In preparation for an expansion, we also survey the area and take appropriate measures to limit impact.
Managing vegetation
Vegetation management activities at our facilities and on our pipeline rights-of-way focus on using the most environmentally-appropriate and economical ways of keeping our rights-of-way clear for inspection. Our 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.
Protecting soils and waterways
Enbridge is committed to protecting the environmental integrity of soils and waterways in and around our operations.
In 2007, Enbridge Pipelines (Athabasca) Inc. partnered with Access Pipeline Inc. (ACCESS) to work more effectively with regulators and communities to reduce the cumulative impacts of pipeline construction through agricultural lands and watercourses within Strathcona County, which is located east of Edmonton, Alberta.
The two companies coordinated pipeline construction within a common right-of-way to reduce the cumulative impacts from construction of Enbridge’s Waupisoo pipeline and two ACCESS pipelines. By working together, Enbridge and ACCESS reduced impacts to agricultural soils, watercourses, riparian areas, wildlife and historical resources sites. For example:
- The two companies minimized topsoil handling to two movements – stripping and replacement. First, ACCESS stripped the topsoil during construction of one of its pipelines. Then, Enbridge constructed our Waupisoo pipeline within the same ACCESS right-of-way, requiring only an additional seven metres of width. ACCESS then constructed its second pipeline within Enbridge’s Waupisoo right-of-way with no further topsoil stripping required. Upon completion of the second ACCESS pipeline, ACCESS reclaimed the entire right-of-way during its clean-up operations.
- In the fall of 2007, both companies constructed their pipelines at Point-Aux-Pins Creek simultaneously and together completed channel and bank reclamation. In the spring of 2008, the two companies conducted reclamation work planting native plant material across the right-of-way to a height of 4-5 feet. Landowners on both sides of the creek also supported the project and saw reduced construction on their lands as a result.
Enbridge has led the development of best practices in preserving agricultural land. As part of this work, we have entered into agreements with the state agricultural departments in Illinois and Minnesota to implement practices that limit the long-term impact on cultivated lands during our recent construction projects.