Land Use and Biodiversity

Our aim is to minimize our impacts to the land and sensitive environmental areas. To choose pipeline routes and locations for new facilities, we conduct extensive assessments to determine the potential effects of our activities on plants, wildlife, heritage sites, water bodies and the environment. Once facilities are in place, we restore the land and monitor our operations for potential impacts.

Pipeline excavation

One of our common impacts on land occurs through our ongoing program of maintenance "digs," which involve excavating sections of pipeline to inspect and repair pipe to maintain high levels of system integrity. Before beginning work, we complete screening tests to identify environmental issues and measures needed to minimize our impacts to land. In 2003, we completed about 720 digs along our Liquids Pipelines System in Canada and the United States.

In environmentally sensitive terrain such as national forests, we consult with the U.S. Forest Service to plan maintenance digs along our rights-of-way. In 2003, during construction of pipeline through the Chippewa National Forest in Minnesota, we worked closely with the agency to pilot a new approach for planning digs. The new approach systematically addresses environmental issues while streamlining approvals. We plan to use a similar approach to planning future digs where our pipelines cross other national forest lands.

Gas Distribution was instrumental in developing a new approach to maintenance on buried natural gas mains. Instead of a large conventional excavation that disrupts traffic and businesses, a new keyhole technology was developed by Gas Distribution that can perform this maintenance and repair activity in selected applications through a small diameter hole cut in the pavement. The keyhole technology minimizes the impacts on roads, reduces traffic disruption and is lower in costs. This is positive for the environment, society and for the company's bottomline.

Tree planting in Colombia

The 800-kilometre (500-mile) ocensa crude oil pipeline traverses grasslands, forests and mountains in Colombia. As part of its environmental license, ocensa plants trees along the pipeline right-of-way to restore forested areas disturbed during pipeline construction from 1995 to 1997.

To date, about 1,740 hectares (4,298 acres) of trees have been planted. As part of this program, 120 hectares (296 acres) of red mangrove, a rare and endangered species, have been planted, with the assistance of local community workers' associations.

Environmental outreach

In many areas of our operations, we support local environmental projects, helping to turn environmental commitment into action.

One example is our Environmental Initiative Program, which provides funding to grassroots community groups along our Liquids Pipelines System in Canada. Since its inception in 1991, the program has contributed more than CDN$1 million to 338 community-based projects that protect the environment and boost environmental awareness.

Some of the initiatives funded in 2003 were:

1. native wildflower and grasses demonstration site at Gray's Creek Conservation Area in Cornwall, Ontario;
2. career development workshop on environmental management for members of the Deh Ga Gotie First Nation in Fort Providence, Northwest Territories; and
3. theatre production on the importance of environmental protection, developed by Calgary's Evergreen Theatre for local Alberta schools.

We also partner with local conservation groups to enhance natural areas. In Toronto and other communities across Ontario, employees celebrated Earth Day by planting trees at schools and local parks and joining in neighbourhood cleanups. In Illinois, Minnesota and Texas, we funded the U.S. Nature Conservancy's programs to help its goal of preserving open space and habitat in areas close to our pipeline facilities.

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