Substation Developments Environmental Guidelines Checklist for Applicants Effective date: February 1, 2016 These guidelines are intended to be used in conjunction with the flowchart in Figure 1 which conceptually illustrates procedural steps to be considered by applicants for new substation construction and for existing substation modifications. Each question is to be answered with: yes, no, not applicable (N/A), or explain accordingly. Development of new substations The following sections apply only if the project involves the development of a new substation. General: 1) Have you described the existing (i.e. pre-construction) environmental and land-use conditions on the substation site and in the local study area? 2) Does your project incorporate the guidelines contained in Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) Environmental Protection Guidelines for Transmission Lines (R&R/11-03) document, and if not, have you described what aspects of the project do not incorporate the guidelines? 3) Have you described the potential adverse effects of the substation on the environment, including, as applicable, terrain and soils, surface water bodies and hydrology, groundwater, wetlands, vegetation species and communities, wildlife species and habitat, aquatic species and habitat, air quality, environmentally sensitive areas and land use? 4) Have you described the approach to manage stormwater runoff on the substation site to protect on-site and off-site terrain, soils, surface water quality, groundwater, and land use? 5) Have you submitted a project-specific environmental protection plan or otherwise itemized and described the mitigation measures and monitoring activities that you will implement during construction and operation to minimize any adverse effects of the substation on the environment? 6) Have you identified the government agencies or departments that you consulted with as part of your site selection phase, described any prescribed guidelines and stated in the application how the guidelines will be followed?
Substation Developments Environmental Guidelines Effective date: February 1, 2016 Checklist for Applicants Page 2 of 6 Land use: 7) If the substation is being developed on Crown lands, have you consulted with the regional approvals program area of AEP on the project, regarding siting and the potential disturbance by the project of land with protective notations on the land title and any other surface activity dispositions and described any specific mitigation measures that you will incorporate into the project as a result of that consultation? 8) Have you determined if the proposed development is compatible with any area restrictions and ensured the project is not in an area where development of new transmission facilities is prohibited under federal or provincial authority such as the Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves and Natural Areas Act, Provincial Parks Act or Willmore Wilderness Park Act? 9) If the substation site occurs on or is bordered by agricultural land, have you developed procedures and consulted with the landowners and appropriate local municipalities with respect to rules and procedures on preventing the spread of weeds and pests 1 on agricultural land? 10) If the substation site is located on land where soils or vegetation have not been previously disturbed, did you obtain Historical Resources Act approval from Alberta Culture and Tourism for the project? Wildlife and aquatic species: 11) If the substation is proposed within or adjacent to a wetland or potential fish and wildlife habitat: (a) Have you described consultation with AEP in regard to any Water Act or Wildlife Act related aspects of the proposed substation, described any AEP prescribed guidelines and stated how the guidelines will be followed? (b) Have you described the results of a self-assessment under Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) guidelines or, if necessary, have you described the results of a DFO review of the project? (c) Have you described any outstanding wildlife, vegetation, or aquatic issues identified by AEP or DFO biologists regarding the proposed development, which have not yet been fully addressed? 12) Have you described any mitigation measures you will implement during operation of the substation to minimize the electrocution of birds and animals by substation equipment? 1 Pests are defined in the Alberta Agricultural Pests Act RSA 2000, Chapter A-8.
Substation Developments Environmental Guidelines Effective date: February 1, 2016 Checklist for Applicants Page 3 of 6 Substation modifications The following sections apply to the non-emergency salvage, modification or repair of existing substations where soil excavation or disturbance, on or immediately adjacent to a substation site, is proposed. Basic substation information: 1) Have you provided the substation name with a unique identification number? 2) Have you provided the legal land description, as well as the latitude and longitude or municipal address of the substation? 3) Have you indicated the date the substation commenced operations? 4) Have you described the existing environmental and land-use conditions on the substation site and in the local study area? 5) Have you described the potential adverse effects of the substation modification on the environment, including as applicable, terrain and soils, surface water bodies and hydrology, groundwater, wetlands, vegetation species and communities, wildlife species and habitat, aquatic species and habitat, air quality, environmentally sensitive areas and land use? 6) Have you described how any potential environmental effects of the project will be mitigated? Operational history to determine the detail and type of information needed: 7) Was any electrical equipment containing insulating oil installed with underlying secondary containment on the existing substation site? If yes ensure you complete line 12 Adequacy Of Secondary Containment. 8) Have you described the duration of any polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) use on-site and indicated both the maximum and the current PCB content of all fluid-filled electrical equipment that is not hermetically sealed? 9) Was a secondary containment system installed after the substation commenced operations? If yes ensure you complete line 11 Substations Operated for a Time Without Secondary Containment.
Substation Developments Environmental Guidelines Effective date: February 1, 2016 Checklist for Applicants Page 4 of 6 Environmental evaluation: 10) For substations currently operating without underlying secondary containment, or in cases where the history of the secondary containment is unknown, have you: (a) Completed the steps in Figure 1 Process Flowchart for New Substations and Existing Substation Modifications and provided the date that the environmental evaluation was completed? (b) Described the methodology and summarized the conclusions of the environmental evaluation conducted to assess the likelihood of encountering contamination and any need for further assessment? (c) Complied with Alberta release reporting requirements (if needed)? 2 (d) Described any additional contaminant assessment or remediation proposed during the proposed work (if needed)? (e) Described any soil sampling or further environmental evaluation to be undertaken during the proposed work? (f) Briefly described plans to safely manage, transport and dispose of any used insulating oil during the proposed work? (g) Briefly described plans to assess and, if needed, transport and dispose of soil affected by releases of regulated fluids? (h) Described any public health and safety measures to protect the public from environmental hazards during the proposed work? (i) Described how contaminated or potentially contaminated soil and groundwater is being managed to prevent the migration of contaminants off the substation site? 2 The Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act RSA 2000 Chapter E-12 requires any release of substances that may cause, is causing or has caused an adverse effect to the environment to be reported to Alberta Environment and Parks. An adverse effect is impairment of, or damage to, the environment, human health or safety, or property. The Release Reporting Regulation sets out what must be reported, when, how and to whom reports must be made. Table 1 of Alberta Tier 1 Soil and Groundwater Remediation Guidelines contains maximum contaminant levels for various compounds. Individual approvals and codes of practice may also have requirements for reporting contraventions of the terms and conditions of the approval or code of practice, monitoring results and sampling programs.
Substation Developments Environmental Guidelines Effective date: February 1, 2016 Checklist for Applicants Page 5 of 6 Substations operated for a time without secondary containment: 11) For substations where secondary containment was installed after the electrical equipment commenced operations, have you: (a) Indicated the date secondary containment was installed? (b) Briefly described the nature of the secondary containment and its installation? (c) Described any soils assessment conducted prior to installation of the secondary containment? i. If yes, have you summarized the conclusions and recommendations of the soils assessment report and described any contaminant risk management or further environmental evaluation proposed during the proposed work? ii. If no, have you described how the potential for contaminants under the secondary containment was assessed and how any associated contaminant risks are being managed? Adequacy of secondary containment: 12) For substations where secondary containment is now in place have you: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) Listed the electrical equipment under which secondary containment was installed? Indicated if the integrity of the secondary containment(s) has been tested in accordance with applicable standards and/or electrical industry best management practices and briefly described the test results? Indicated the date of any environmental field inspection conducted and summarized the conclusions and recommendations? Briefly described plans to safely manage, transport and dispose of any used insulating oil during the proposed work? If planning to excavate within the secondary containment, have you briefly described plans to assess and, if needed, transport and dispose of backfill material affected by releases of regulated fluids? Described any public health and safety measures to protect the public from environmental hazards during the proposed work? Described how contaminated or potentially contaminated soil and groundwater is being managed to prevent the migration of contaminants off the substation site?
Substation Developments Environmental Guidelines Effective date: February 1, 2016 Checklist for Applicants Page 6 of 6 Figure 1 - New substation construction or existing substation modification flow chart (return to text) Flow_Chart_201601 11.docx (consists of 4 pages)
Environmental guidelines for new substation construction or existing substation modification flow chart Prepare scope of work for equipment change or addition of substation Describe project components and activities Describe other approvals. (e.g. Historical Resources Act, Water Act, or Public Land Act clearances...etc.) Determine project type New substation (go to page 2) Equipment change using existing infrastructure; no soil excavation (go to page 3) Existing substation soil excavation required to change equipment or expand disturbed area (go to page 4) Page 1 of 4
New substation New or expanded disturbed area Environmental assessment As appropriate for the existing land-use assess current conditions and predict effects to: vegetation wildlife and wildlife habitat soil and terrain hydrology and wetlands water quality existing land use other Assess to AEP guidelines/criteria and other legislation where applicable Consult with AEP and Alberta Culture and Tourism when applicable Describe environmental effects and any mitigation, EPP. Submit application to the AUC AUC permit and licence received Secure approvals from other applicable regulatory agencies Implement mitigation measures and conduct environmental monitoring during construction and operation Document and retain on file Page 2 of 4
Equipment change using existing infrastructure; no soil excavation Describe basic environmental protection measures Submit application to the AUC AUC permit and licence received Page 3 of 4
Existing substation Soil excavation required to change equipment or expand disturbed area There is no electrical equipment with the local study area that contains nonhermetically sealed insulating fluids Liner under fluidfilled equipment when constructed Electrical equipment within the local study area contains insulating fluids that are not hermetically sealed Liner installed under fluid-filled equipment after construction No liner under fluidfilled equipment or no assessment of residual contamination when liner installed Contamination assessment Review site history to evaluate potential contamination: Biophysical components (based on existing land use) Hydrology and surface water quality Review site information O & M record Incident spill records PCB records Existing environmental reports Complete a site visit (under snow free condition) Document soil staining or other deficiencies Other Describe environmental effects and any mitigation, EPP. Submit application to AUC Describe how the integrity of the liner is monitored. Describe results of monitoring to date. Characterize risk of residual contamination based on assessment at time of liner installation. Describe action regarding any site-specific risk management. No Incorporate AEP guidelines and consult with AEP if required Contamination found If file record is incomplete explain and propose sampling of excavated area Review results of contaminant assessment in relation to regulatory requirements AUC permit and license received If reportable release (see footnote 1 below): Notify AEP and implement mitigation as required If non-reportable: Document and retain on file and describe plans to address deficiencies in future modification work or ongoing operation and maintenance Yes Potential contamination outside of area proposed for excavation Potential contamination within area proposed for excavation AUC permit and license received Submit application to the AUC Not expanding disturbed area Include a contaminated soil management procedure (sitespecific) and/or EPP If reportable release (see footnote 1 below): Notify AEP and implement mitigation as required If non-reportable: Document any deficiencies, leaks, and soil staining within the scope of work, and describe how addressed in application Substation decommissioning/ abandonment and reclamation Environmental monitoring during decommissioning Remove equipment Phase II ESA or equivalent Delineate and excavate Sample walls and base of excavation (closure sampling) Dispose recovered soils at an approved facility Clean up to reclamation criteria Prepare site for reclamation certification Monitor Complete a detailed site assessment Apply to AEP for reclamation certification Upgrade/repair/replacement/salvage (within scope of proposed work) Environmental monitoring during construction If contaminated soil found in planned ground disturbance area, excavate and recover soil to the sagest and most practical extent possible Sample walls and base of excavation (closure sampling) If residual contamination implement site-specific contaminant risk management plan. Dispose recovered soils at an approved facility If unsafe to clean up (e.g. energized substation), document and retain on file. Consult AEP as appropriate Expanding disturbed area (go to page 2 of the flow chart) Document and retain on file Footnote 1: AEP, Release Reporting Guidelines, http://esrd.alberta.ca/focus/compliance-assurance-program/documents/reportingspillsreleases-2010.pdf Page 4 of 4