Genesis Pipeline Public Information

Public Information Document
Project Overview
NOVA Chemicals (Canada) Ltd. (NOVA Chemicals) is
undertaking a project to convert our Corunna ethylene
manufacturing facility from a primarily oil-based feedstock
supply to primarily ethane feedstock. One part of the Corunna
conversion project includes reconverting and extending one of
the Genesis Pipelines to allow the transportation of ethane
from Marysville, Michigan into the Corunna manufacturing
site. This Genesis Pipeline Extension Project will enable our
Corunna facilities to receive ethane produced from the
Marcellus Shale formation.
extension that requires
the construction of a new
NPS 10 pipeline section
approximately 8 km in
length from the Ontario
Valve Site to NOVA
Chemicals' Corunna
plant.
Above ground
facilities will be installed
near the Ontario Valve Site as well as near the CSX rail tracks
where the proposed 10” line heads south from LaSalle Rd.
The first component of the pipeline project consists of
reconverting the existing NOVA Chemicals owned pipeline that
crosses beneath the St. Clair River from the Michigan Valve
Site to the Ontario Valve Site. This NPS 12 pipeline is
approximately 946 m in length.
The final component of the Project involves the construction of
a bi-directional ethane supply / storage line (approx. 1544 m)
between the NOVA Chemicals' Corunna plant site and the
Provident Hydrocarbon Storage Site.
The second component consists of a proposed pipeline
Construction is proposed for 2013.
Location of the Project
Genesis Pipeline Extension Project
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Project Needs/Benefits
The Genesis Pipeline Extension Project will provide the
physical interconnection for the transportation of Marcellus
ethane directly into the Corunna facility. Marcellus Shale Gas
has changed the supply of natural gas and natural gas liquids
(NGL's) in the North East USA and Eastern Canada.
This has made ethane attractive for the production of ethylene
in the Sarnia area, and is an important opportunity to ensure
NOVA Chemicals' competitive economic viability today and
into the future.
Preservation of existing employment with NOVA Chemicals
and throughout the Sarnia cluster is important to the region.
Converting to a lighter ethane-based feedstock has potential
environmental benefits when compared to oil-based
feedstock. NOVA Chemicals' Corunna operations should
realize significant emissions reductions from the conversion
to ethane, positively impacting our greenhouse gas (GHG)
emission intensity profile.
Construction
NOVA CHEMICALS IS COMMITTED TO
MINIMIZING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
THROUGH SOUND CONSTRUCTION PRACTICES
! We will monitor the effects during and following
construction to ensure the requirements outlined in the
ESA are satisfied.
! Approximately 64% of the pipeline route is located on
lands owned by NOVA Chemicals.
! Scheduling of construction will be during daylight
hours from Monday – Saturday where practical.
Construction equipment will be equipped with
appropriate mufflers.
! Pipeline will be installed by typical excavation or
horizontal directional drill techniques.
! Construction activities will not impede access to homes
or business.
! Appropriate dust control measures will be implemented
(e.g. monitoring for dust, water application if
necessary).
! Impacts to agricultural lands will be minimized through
proven soil management practices and wet soil
shutdown.
Post-Construction
Following construction, in consultation with the landowners a
monitoring program will be undertaken. Typically, these
programs are undertaken during the first and/or second
complete growing season following construction. The objective
of the monitoring program is to ensure that mitigation and
protective measures implemented during final clean-up and
reclamation are successful and continue to be effective. In
addition, the program provides a means to implement
additional mitigation and protective measures as necessary.
Possible monitoring includes: soil reclamation, revegetation,
and erosion control. Deficiencies identified by the landowners
will be addressed to their satisfaction.
! Signage and security fencing will be employed around
any open trenches or near road crossings.
! We will work to avoid disturbing or removing
landowner's trees where ever possible. If tree clearing is
required, we will work with the landowner to replace the
cleared trees.
! During construction, an Environmental Inspector will
be the on-site Company representative responsible for
ensuring construction activities are conducted in
compliance with environmental
commitments (e.g., ESA report,
environmental regulatory
permits, etc.).
Effective soil
management
Genesis Pipeline Extension Project
The Proposed Genesis Pipeline Extension Project and the Environment
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A key component of any pipeline project is determining the baseline environmental conditions within a given Study Area, and in
particular along a proposed pipeline route. By understanding existing biophysical and socio-economic conditions, appropriate
measures can be adopted to avoid or mitigate impacts of construction and operation activities. Following a desktop review of
various environmental and socio-economic factors, field surveys were undertaken to confirm and add to the baseline
understanding of the proposed alternative pipeline routes. These surveys included: biophysical inventories of terrestrial
communities, aquatic habitat assessment, and archaeological and heritage resources assessments.
Biophysical Inventories of Terrestrial Communities
Field investigations were carried out in the Fall of 2011 to confirm and assess the character of existing conditions in the Study
Area. Surveys included identification and delineation of vegetation communities, searching for targeted species at risk, habitat
assessments for species at risk (see list below), documentation of incidental wildlife and associated habitats, and identification
and confirmation of significant natural heritage features. To date, habitat assessments for species at risk were conducted
specifically for:
!
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!
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Bobolink;
Eastern Meadowlark;
Barn Swallow;
Five-lined Skink; and,
Butler's Gartersnake.
Further investigation will occur in the Spring of 2012 including:
!
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!
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Surveys for Spoon Leaved Moss;
Coverboard surveys for Butler's Gartersnake;
Botanical surveys for Small White Lady's-slipper, American
Columbo and other provincially rare spring ephemerals; and,
Breeding Bird surveys for Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark and
Barn Swallow (if required).
Aquatic Habitat Assessment
To support background data collection and determine the sensitivity of
watercourses in the Study Area to potential project activities, aquatic
habitat assessments were conducted in the Fall of 2011. These surveys
confirmed watercourse thermal and flow regimes and the presence or
absence of species at risk habitat.
Archaeological and Heritage Resources Assessment
A Heritage Impact Assessment was undertaken in the Fall of 2011 to
determine if any potentially significant built heritage resources and
cultural heritage landscapes exist within the Study Area. A Stage I
Archaeological study was also conducted in the Fall of 2011 to review
registered archaeological sites in the vicinity, local physiography and topography, mapping and historical records from the 19th
century, and aerial imagery. A Stage II Archaeological Study will be undertaken in the Spring of 2012 along the preliminary
preferred route.
Our intent
In order to minimize potential disruption to landowners, it is the intent of the NOVA Chemicals and its contractors to complete all
remaining field surveys in an efficient, timely and effective manner. Every effort will be made to minimize
disturbance and impacts to biophysical and cultural elements of the landscape, and all work will be carried
out in an environmentally responsible manner.
Genesis Pipeline Extension Project
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Responsible Care®
Responsible Care…our commitment to safety, health and
environment
NOVA Chemicals is committed to being among the industry
leaders in achieving and maintaining superior Responsible
Care performance. Safety is critical to our business, and we
work in many ways to protect people and assets. We are also
committed to minimizing our impact on the environment
because it is the right thing to do, and is key to the
sustainability of our business.
Taking CAER
Under the umbrella of Responsible Care is the Community
Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) program.
Through CAER, our team of field and technical staff is focused
on operating our pipelines with the utmost consideration for
public safety, adjacent landowners and environmental
integrity. We take a proactive approach to communicating
and working with potentially impacted stakeholders.
Launched in 1985 by the Chemistry Industry Association of
Canada (then Canadian Chemical Producer's Association),
Responsible Care is a unique “ethic” for the safe and
environmentally sound management of chemicals which has
spread to more than 50 countries around the world. It is a
global commitment to the responsible management of
chemicals through their entire life cycle.
Pipeline Operations
Pipelines are an important infrastructure component of the NOVA Chemicals' Sarnia-Lambton manufacturing facilities. We have
safely operated many pipelines in the region for many years with dedicated resources and technical teams.
The proposed Genesis Pipeline Extension will be an important part of the Corunna Manufacturing Facility's existing
infrastructure and right-of-way, without increasing our industrial footprint. The pipeline will be managed under our pipeline
integrity program which encompasses continuous / real-time operation monitoring, leak detection, aerial and foot patrols of our
right-of-ways.
Our pipelines are developed with inherent safe design practices and are
supported by multiple layers of redundancy with administrative and
mechanical controls.
We have a mature Pipeline Emergency Response Program (ERP) and
will enhance our existing programs to provide additional information to
the public including:
! the properties and hazards associated with ethane (Material Safety
Data Sheets); and,
! an outline of the ERP.
We are active members in regional Public Awareness programs through
Sarnia's Community Awareness Emergency Response (CAER), Blue
Water Community Awareness Program (BCAP), Ontario Regional
Common Ground Alliance (ORCGA) and Chemical Valley Emergency
Coordinating Organization (CVECO).
Contact Information
“Thank you for taking the time to read this brochure. As part of NOVA Chemicals' ongoing consultation with
stakeholders we encourage you to provide the Project team with your comments through our toll-free project
information line (1-888-220-5880). Information about the Project and the NEB public hearing process is also
available by visiting the 'News Room' on the NOVA Chemicals' Sarnia-Lambton webpage
(www.novachem.com/sarniaLambton).”
Genesis Pipeline Extension Project