Trans Mountain Pipeline ULC

Volume 5A: ESA - Biophysical

Trans Mountain Expansion Project

Section 5.0: Environmental Setting for the Pipeline

7894/December 2013

ESA-NEB-TERA-00005A5

Page 5-213

TABLE 5.13-1

Cont'd

Environmental Elements

Summary of Considerations

Water Quality and Quantity

•

The Hinton to Hargreaves Segment lies within the Athabasca River Basin in Alberta and the Fraser River Basin in BC.

•

Flow regimes along this segment are generally dominated by snowmelt, with some influence from shrinking glaciers.

Over winter months, precipitation stored as snowpack accumulates. During spring, increased temperatures combined

with rainfall results in high volume freshets, which typically peak from May to July.

•

There are approximately 220 waterbodies along the reactivated pipeline segment (TERA 2005).

•

Source test water for the Hinton to Hargreaves Segment is likely to be drawn from the Athabasca, Snaring, Miette and

Fraser rivers, as well as Moose Lake.

Air Emissions

•

Existing air quality along the Hinton to Hargreaves Segment is expected to be good.

•

The largest emission sources are vehicle traffic along Highway 16, Jasper Airport, and a power generation plant near

Jasper Pump Station.

GHG Emissions

•

The main source of GHG emissions are aerial patrols which are conducted for maintenance purposes.

Acoustic Environment

•

The largest sources of sound in the ambient acoustical environment along this segment are forestry activities, small

airport flight paths, train activities on railways and recreational and tourist activities.

•

The Hinton to Hargreaves Segment loosely parallels the Highway 16 transportation corridor. The ambient environment

in close proximity to the highway will be elevated due to the presence of vehicle traffic. In general, if a heavily travelled

roadway is within the Acoustic Environment LSA, then an elevated acoustic ambient environment may exist. AER

Directive 038: Noise Control Directive

(ERCB 2007) indicates that traffic affects ASLs at up to 500 m from the roadway,

which is a consideration for assessing receptors within the Acoustic Environment LSA.

•

This segment only passes through the single moderately urbanized community of the Town of Jasper. The remainder of

this pipeline segment is located in undeveloped, rural lands where natural sounds dominate existing background. Some

human activity may occur, but would not appreciably affect sound levels.

•

The only applicable noise bylaw for this segment is the Municipality of Jasper Bylaw No. 108. The bylaw permits

construction activities from 7:30 AM to 9 PM, 7 days a week with the exception of holidays in which case no construction

activity is allowed.

Fish and Fish Habitat

•

The Hinton to Hargreaves Segment lies within the Athabasca River Basin in Alberta and the Fraser River Basin in BC.

•

There are 220 waterbodies along the reactivated pipeline segment, of which 49 are fish-bearing (TERAWestland 2005).

•

The section of the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park was designated as a Canadian Heritage River in 1989

(Canadian Heritage Rivers System 2011c).

•

Source test water for the Hinton to Hargreaves Segment is likely to be drawn from the Athabasca, Snaring, Miette and

Fraser rivers, as well as Moose Lake. If hydrostatic test water is withdrawn from a nearby river or creek, an interaction

with fish and fish habitat may occur. Fish species that may be found in the Athabasca and Fraser river basins are

inferred based on fish species found in the Athabasca and Upper Fraser river watersheds (see Fisheries [Alberta]

Technical Report and Fisheries [British Columbia] Technical Report of Volume 5C).

•

Provincially and federally-listed species of concern are inferred based on listed species found in the Athabasca and

Upper Fraser river watersheds (see Table 4.3 of the Fisheries [Alberta] Technical Report of Volume 5C and Tables 4.4

and 4.5 of the Fisheries [British Columbia] Technical Report of Volume 5C).

•

White sturgeon is found in the Upper Fraser River Basin and is listed as Endangered under Schedule 1 of

SARA

(Environment Canada 2013o) and is Red-listed in BC (BC CDC 2013a). White sturgeon may reside in the upper Fraser

River mainstem; their distribution is assumed to be low and they are not expected to inhabit smaller tributaries (Fisheries

[British Columbia] Technical Report of Volume 5C).

•

Bull trout in the Athabasca and Fraser river basins near the reactivated pipeline segment are listed as a Species of

Special Concern under COSEWIC (2013b). It is also designated Special Concern by the Alberta ESCC (AESRD 2012d)

and is Blue-listed in BC (BC CDC 2013a). Bull trout is also an indicator species in Alberta.

•

Athabasca rainbow trout is considered to be At Risk in Alberta (ASRD 2011) and is in the process of being listed under

the Alberta

Wildlife Act

and

Wildlife Regulation

. (AESRD 2012d).

•

Spiny sculpin is listed as May be At Risk in Alberta (ASRD 2011).