By Rod Ruston
Article originally published in the Vancouver Sun. Reprinted with the author’s permission.
In summer 2007, when North American Energy Partners Inc.'s operating company, North American Construction Group, began building an oil pipeline to run through the Rocky Mountains near Edmonton, we knew this would be a project of unprecedented proportions and logistical complexities.
The TMX Anchor Loop, as it is called, was to be an expansion of our client Kinder Morgan Canada's Trans Mountain Pipe Line, which carries Alberta oil to Burnaby, B.C. for transport to U.S. and international markets. The 160-kilometer stretch of pipeline would be laid across a remarkable piece of Canadian geography that includes a national park (Jasper National Park), a provincial one (B.C.'s Mount Robson Provincial Park), a stunning international tourist destination (the resort town of Jasper, Alberta), and of course, the world-famous Rocky Mountains. This pristine area of the country, with its delicate ecosystems, is designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Against such a backdrop, we were both challenged and excited by the opportunity to take on this project for Kinder Morgan. We knew our work would be scrutinized by many stakeholders, including environmentalists, government agencies such as the National Energy Board, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada, B.C. Provincial Parks, residents of affected communities, First Nations groups and of course, our client.
Now, 7,000 joints of 36-inch diameter steel pipeline later, the line is delivering oil to customers, seven months ahead of schedule. The affected portions of the Rocky Mountains have been restored to their original condition as have fish and wildlife habitats.
This is the story of how we completed the most ambitious piece of construction and engineering in our company's history on one of the most challenging pipeline projects in Canada.
While construction began almost a year and a half ago, intricate planning critical to the project's success had to be carried out long before ground was broken. We devised ways to transport hundreds of pieces of heavy construction equipment to site. We set up temporary yard facilities, offices, repair facilities, and other important infrastructure in our two equipment-staging areas near the towns of Jasper and Valemount, in B.C. We also arranged with local hotel owners to house more than 700 workers for the duration of the 15-month project.
Once the actual construction began, the highly sensitive treatment of the area's wildlife and their life cycles was one of our foremost considerations. This is the habitat of grizzly bears, elk, bighorn sheep and rams, mountain lions and wolves, as well as countless small animals, birds and rare vegetation.
When we encountered the extremely rare Haller's Apple Moss, we took special measures to protect the plant. Areas where this plant grew were isolated and fenced, while construction activities were designed to ensure that we did not alter the conditions the plant was accustomed to.
When we found some newly hatched baby swallows in an embankment in the Mount Robson area of B.C., we quarantined the area and diverted construction activities until the birds matured and were no longer vulnerable.
The project involved crossing over 125 environmentally sensitive rivers (40 of which were fish bearing), including the Athabasca River (a Canadian Heritage River). So we took great care to protect fish, spawning beds and the like. This meant ensuring that the pipe we were laying did not generate excess amounts of silt that could harm river life. So we pumped the flowing river around the construction area to allow excavation through a dry channel to eliminate any impact on the quality of the clear mountain flows. Fish were caught and transferred downstream to ensure no impacts to aquatic life.
And then there were the Rockies. Because of their ruggedness and the narrow space we had to work in, laying pipe across these mountains was extremely challenging. In most areas, the mountain slopes needed to be "side cut" to create a level workspace for our construction activities. This was achieved by blasting and removing large volumes of rock. Retaining walls were then constructed to maintain a stable and safe work surface. During final clean-up operations, any rock that had been removed was returned to the mountains to preserve their original slopes and contours. North American went to such great lengths to restore the original beauty of the mountains that it is now almost impossible to tell that a pipeline runs through these mountains.
Along with showing intense sensitivity to wildlife and river life, we also had to respect the communities in which we were working. Initially, Jasper was apprehensive about the prospect of more than 700 workers descending on the picturesque town. But, in line with our company's strict code of conduct, employees acted as respectful corporate citizens. As a result, we built lasting relationships with the residents. We participated in local hockey tournaments. We donated to local charities.
And during the project, our staff injected about $42 million into the Jasper economy. We truly became part of the community.
The TMX Anchor Loop is now complete, but the experience leaves an important legacy. Parks Canada has praised the way in which we conducted the work. We developed positive relationships with the local communities and our relationship with the Simpcw First Nation became so strong that we are now discussing future collaborative projects.
Probably the most valuable part of the experience is an affirmation of North American's long-held belief that wildlife, plant life and aquatic life can co-exist with industrial work as long as careful, respectful and thoughtful planning plays a key role.
Rod Ruston is Chief Executive Officer of North American Energy Partners Inc.
