Land Reclamation

These photos show TransCanada’s efforts to ensure land is successfully reclaimed. The image on the left shows pipeline construction and the image on the right shows the same area following reclamation.

Over the course of our 65-year history, TransCanada has successfully reclaimed hundreds of thousands of acres of land in arid grasslands, mountainous regions, sandy soils, forest, wetlands and rich crop lands. We value the landscapes where we live, where we work and where we play, and like you, we care about the environment. That means we want to cause as little disturbance to the land and to landowners and land users as possible.

Q&A

Q: What happens after the pipeline is built?

A: We won’t disappear or disengage after Coastal GasLink is operating. Just because construction is finished, we’re not! We have ongoing activities that include:

• A Reclamation Program which aims to return the land to its pre-construction state, including similar land capability and use of agricultural lands.
• A Post-Construction Monitoring Program that will determine how effective our mitigation was, and help us identify if any further work is needed.
• Monitoring of the pipeline during the entire operating life to ensure the pipeline corridor remains stable and the pipeline remains safe.

Q: How long does reclamation and post-construction monitoring take?

A: Reclamation occurs immediately after the pipeline is buried and the soil is replaced.  Post-construction monitoring occurs for a minimum of five years after reclamation. During operations, we will continue to monitor for the life of the pipeline, and if any issues arise, we will address them.

Q: What do you do to reclaim the land after the pipeline has been built?

A: Reclamation is ‘top of mind’ early in the planning stage of a project, and begins at the same time as we are planning the construction of our project. To develop our reclamation plan:

• We study the results of soils, vegetation, wildlife and fisheries surveys, as well as information on current land use and traditional land use.
• We use information we gather through surveys on vegetation that our pipeline crosses, to provide the basis for preliminary seed mixes and other re-vegetation techniques.
• Current land use (cultivation, pasture, forested, etc.) information, as well as information about First Nations cultural values, is gathered to help determine specific construction and reclamation procedures to be used on a particular piece of land.
• Soil handling techniques are carefully implemented on agricultural land to protect the topsoil and prevent mixing of subsoil with topsoil, so land productivity can be maintained equivalent to the pre-construction state.
• Wildlife and fisheries surveys are used to identify areas where special reclamation measures, such as stream bank stabilization (i.e., bio-stabilization techniques) may be required to maintain fish and wildlife habitat and prevent the erosion of sediment into the water.

Q: What’s involved with post-construction?

A: Over a minimum of five years, resource specialists will revisit sites along the pipeline to assess the land to compare it to pre-construction land conditions. If we find our mitigation and reclamation has not been successful, we will look at options to address the site-specific situation.

Q: How is the land expected to look after the pipeline is built?

A: The land will be reclaimed as close as possible to pre-construction conditions, including vegetation such as grasses and shrubs. In forested areas, trees can grow back along the pipeline corridor except for a 10 metre wide area over the pipeline, which will be kept clear of big trees to allow for maintenance and monitoring during operations.

Q: What if I see a problem with the land after the pipeline is built?

A. It’s our goal to return areas disturbed by construction to a comparable pre-construction state. If landowners have concerns, we will have a phone number and email available for the public to contact us about any questions or concerns. We will continue to engage with local communities and land users through the life of the project and appreciate feedback to ensure we continue to operate a safe and reliable pipeline.