Fraser Valley Edition, Volume VI - December 2011 1

In August – September 2011, we completed pipeline maintenance in the Coquihalla Valley near the Coquihalla Summit Recreation Area in B.C. This work increased the depth of ground cover over the buried Trans Mountain pipeline where it crosses under the Coquihalla River at two locations.

Flowing through a deep, narrow valley surrounded by mountains and forests, the Coquihalla River is thriving fish habitat and home to steelhead, rainbow and bull trout, and five spe-cies of Pacific salmon. The pristine area surrounding the valley is also abundant with wildlife, including grizzly and black bears, wolves, moose, and deer.

In 2010, in advance of the actual pipeline maintenance work, we prepared an environmental impact assessment, including an archeological overview assessment conducted by Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre. We also obtained all necessary permits from the Ministry of Environment,

Department of Fisheries and Oceans, and Transport Canada.

Due to the remoteness of the area, rugged terrain, and environmental sensitivities, our pipeline maintenance crew took extra care to keep all activ-ity within approved access routes and available workspace and made sure to return the worksites to their natural state after construction was complete.

The two locations involved approxi-mately 60 m of pipe buried under the riverbed at each site and, therefore, at risk from erosion. Before instream construction could begin, we salvaged fish and released them downstream.

Then the work area was isolated using pumps to bypass the water; the pipe was carefully exposed, inspected, repaired, and re-coated. For extra protection, we installed concrete lock-block anchors and concrete swamp weights over the pipe, and then placed

rock riprap and river gravels on top of the concrete weights. Finally, we backfilled and graded the site and restored water flow.

To ensure the effectiveness of our restoration efforts, we surveyed the contours of the riverbank and stream channel before and after construction. We also had an environmental con-sultant on hand during construction to monitor and ensure that all applicable environmental and safety guidelines and requirements were strictly fol-lowed. We will continue to monitor the sites and will plant 70 new trees next spring to replace seven danger trees that we removed for the safety of our workers.

Natural hazard remediation is an important part of our pipeline integrity management program to ensure safe and reliable pipeline operation for many years to come.

Pipeline Maintenance in the Coquihalla Valley

DID YOU KNOW?

The lifespan of a properly mantained pipeline can be

indefinite.

Installing concrete weights over the pipe

Worksite after construction

energy

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… Craig squints at the blaze raging at the top of a tank, sweat trickling down his forehead, stinging his eyes. He tries to wipe it off — his gloved hand strikes the fire helmet — it’s no use. He must get up there, and fast, before the fire gets completely out of control. Clutching a fire hose, he storms across the compound and up the staircase to the tank roof engulfed in flames and heavy smoke. It takes a few intense minutes for Craig’s team to put the fire out. Craig and his team-mates walk back to the classroom where they can take off their 30-pound turnout gear and rest before the next assignment. Only now, Craig realizes he is drenched in sweat and thirsty like the Sahara desert. Fire training with real props in 40C degree heat is starting to feel like a real thing.

Craig Telford is not a professional fire fighter. He is the supervisor of operations at our Burnaby terminal. Fire fighting is not part of his job description, but being prepared for the unexpected is. Last July, Craig and his colleague Steve Hansen, supervisor of operations for the Sumas district, participated in the fire fighter training at Texas Engineering Extension Service, or TEEX, in College Station, Texas.

The one-week training is a com-bination of classroom and field drills

designed to help fire fighters develop and enhance skills in responding to fires associated with flammable liquid storage tanks. It includes six live-fire scenarios (e.g., tank farm fire, manifold area fire) using real props, such as 1000m3 tanks and different types of fire suppression systems. It also presents the first responders with the challenges they will likely face in real life situations: the fires are bigger than those used in other types of training, and there are several fires burning at the same time.

Steve and Craig trained alongside the fire fighting pros, who are well versed in fighting chemical and refinery fires. “Putting yourself in a fire fighter’s shoes is an eye opener,” says Craig. “It gives you a pretty good idea what being a fire fighter means and what can happen if things go wrong. It also provides an opportunity to use different types of equipment, so you learn firsthand what is more effective on certain types of fires. This was the most helpful, yet the toughest training I’ve ever experienced. It was REAL.”

Steve agrees that this was by far the toughest training program he had

ever attended. “The heat is great when you are on vacation, but here it was a little over the top considering our heavy gear and the heat from the fires burning around. I certainly gained a greater appreciation for fire fighters

and the important and dangerous job they do.”

Troy Edwards, our fire fighting consultant who coordinated our staff’s training at TEEX and who also participat-ed as a drill instructor, explains, “An emer-gency incident be it a spill, medical incident, or a fire, requires a first responder to act with a

cool head. The only way to accomplish this is to

train for the unexpected in a scenario that is as close to a real life situation as possible. The local responders who respond to KMC sites are well trained and experienced with emergencies, but they may not have enough exposure to industrial incidents. KMC employees, on the other hand, have a lot of knowledge and experience associated with their industry that the first responders can draw from. Together they make a capable and knowledgeable response team.”

Training Alongside Fire Fighting Pros for Emergency Preparedness

Kinder Morgan partners with community to restore Saar Creek

Our operations supervisors put themselves in a fire fighter’s shoes

Steve Hansen, Supervisor Sumas District

In November 2011, about 40 Barrowtown Elementary School students helped plant native trees and shrubs along the banks of Saar Creek on Sumas Prairie in Abbotsford. The planting is part of a restoration project that we initiated in partnership with the Abbotsford Soil Conservation Association, and the Fraser Valley Watershed Coalition, with contributions from the City of Abbotsford.

Saar Creek flows through highly productive agricul-tural land, and because the area has been farmed for decades, the stream has lost much of its natural values. Restoration aims to re-establish the stream’s natural habitat without compromising agricultural production that is so important in the region. It will help improve water quality and flood control, provide habitat for birds, small animals and fish, and protect the stream banks from erosion. In addition to improving the stream’s natural habitat, the project adds an educational value by providing an outdoor classroom setting for students.

For many years we have been part of wildlife habitat conservation initia-tives. We are pleased that two sites in British Columbia, the Stoney Creek project in Burnaby and the Raft River project near Clearwater in the North Thompson region, were recently granted re-certification by the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC). The WHC certification recognizes active voluntary wildlife habitat management and enhancement programs that provide benefits to native wildlife and augment the biodiversity of an area.

Stoney Creek ProjectAs an ongoing initiative providing con-

servation education for the community, the Stoney Creek project was recognized this year in two categories: Wildlife at Work and Corporate Lands for Learning. The project was also nominated for the Corporate Lands for Learning Rookie of the Year award.

Restoration of Stoney Creek has been a longtime commitment for us. The stream was once barren of salmon, but thanks to the efforts of Stoney Creek Environment Committee volunteers

and their partners in the community, the stream has transformed into a vibrant fish habitat, and the salmon return to spawn here every year. Not only does the project enhance fish and wildlife habitat through replanting and removal of non-native species, it also provides an outdoor classroom setting to teach children about preserving our waterways and the importance of working together on environmental conservation.

Raft River ProjectThe Raft River project received WHC

re-certification in the Wildlife at Work category this year. The project involved stabilizing over 700m of river bank to prevent erosion and enhance habitat for fish. In September 2011, we participated in the Raft River interpretive program led by our community partners: Simpcw First Nation, the District of Clearwater and the Clearwater Skills Centre. The program included a three-day event that taught elementary school students about salmon and the importance of preserving fish habitat for future generations.

The children also learned about the Simpcw First Nation’s history and

participated in a woodworking shop, where they built and painted bird and bat houses. Jason Turner, our environment specialist, talked to children about bats and the important role they play in the ecosystem. More than 300 elementary school students attended the event. Next year’s program will focus on wildlife and freshwater fisheries and will include building two osprey nesting platforms.

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Infrastructure plays an important role in our daily lives and our economy by delivering water, power, sanitation, telecommunications, and commercial products like oil and gas. Much of our country’s critical infrastructure is underground, hidden from sight, and, therefore, at risk of damage from digging or construction activities. Easy access to one-call locate services is essential for the safety and security of everyone involved in ground distur-bance activities.

An easy-to-remember 811 dialing code promoting Call Before You Dig has already proven beneficial in the United States. Since it was introduced in 2007, damages to buried facilities have dropped by 70 per cent. Unlike the United States, Canada deals with a host of 10-digit one-call numbers. Such a profusion of digits can lead to

confusion, which then threatens the integrity of buried infrastructure and ultimately, public safety.

To tackle the problem, the Canadian Common Ground Alliance (CCGA), a member-driven orga-nization whose goal is to improve the protection and security of underground facilities, applied to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) requesting a shared use of 811 for the Canadian Call Before You Dig program. Currently, four Canadian provinces use 811 for non-emergency health services.

As Mike Sullivan, Chair of the CCGA and President of Alberta One-Call, noted “The CCGA recognizes and respects the existing use of 811 in Canada. Broadening the services accessible through this number will

lead to greater usage and increased public benefits.”

Filed in July 2011, the CCGA application to CRTC has garnered the support of 200 stakeholders including important public institutions, elected officials, regulatory agencies, and pri-vate companies. The CRTC will review the application in the coming months, with the final decision expected by mid 2012.

At Kinder Morgan, we fully support the initiative. A single dialing code to Call Before You Dig, once ad-opted nationwide, will enhance public awareness, increase public safety, and reduce the risks associated with unintentional damage to our assets during construction activities. We will keep you up-to-date on the application status in our future issues.

CCGA applies for shared use of 811 in Canada

Being recognized for environmental stewardship

Industry and stakeholders take a decisive step toward improving protection of critical infrastructure

Two wildlife conservation sites in B.C. receive international recognition from Wildlife Habitat Council in 2011

Raft River conservation site

We would like to hear from youPlease send your comments to: externalrelations@kindermorgan.com or via mail to External Relations, 7815 Shellmont St, Burnaby, BC V5A 4S9. We appreciate your feedback. Thank you.

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BC Elders GatheringIn July 2011, First Nations elders gathered in the Fraser Valley to share memories and knowledge with each other and their youth, renew and cre-ate new friendships, and strengthen their community ties. In First Nations culture, elders are respected leaders, who play a key role in guiding their youth and ensuring important cultural knowledge is passed down through generations.

We were pleased to support the 35th annual Elders Gathering in July 2011. We were invited to participate in a traditional meal and welcoming ceremony. The gathering was held over a week in mid July 2011, and was well attended by dignitaries, elected officials and corporations

who recognize the importance of First Nations culture in B.C. (Photo above left: BC Elders Gathering ceremony.)

Kinder Morgan Foundation Supports Young Artists Last summer, the Kinder Morgan Foundation supported affordable and easily accessible commu-nity art programming in Hope, B.C. Assistance was provided to New Page Human Services Society that seeks to engage children in literacy through active participation in a writing contest. During Story Time held in the Park, young artists had an opportunity to create and present their own stories. Thanks to funding for the Young Artists-Book Publishing competition, the best writers will have their stories published, catalogued in the local library, and read at the next summer’s Story Time event.

Our donation to Hope & District Arts Council toward the Art Machine helped to purchase materials for various art activities, such as paint-ing, pottery and crafts. Open to all regardless of age, background, or experience, the Art Machine promotes creativity and allows participants to share in the arts experience.

Arbor Day CelebrationIn May 2011, we participated in Arbor Day celebration in Abbotsford. The event was organized by the City of Abbotsford to foster a spirit of appre-ciation for trees and parks. More than 1,000 elementary school students visited our booth. (Photo above right: Kinder Morgan’s booth, Arbour Day celebration.)

Community Corner

Lexa Hobenshield and Abbotsford hockey team mascot at Arbour Day Celebration