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Maintaining biodiversity across the continent

TransCanada’s 59,000 kilometres of natural gas pipeline crosses some of the most sparsely inhabited country on the continent—the vast boreal forest, the alpine highlands of the Pacific Northwest, Canada’s prairies, and the Great Plains of the American Midwest. Each serves as a habitat that maintains the diversity of plant and animal life. At TransCanada, we work hard to mitigate our impacts on the environment and help sustain its natural biodiversity.

Here’s a representative sampling of what our environmental specialists accomplished in 2008:

Fisheries

To enhance Oregon’s Pine Creek steelhead fishery, we collaborated with federal and state agencies, the Warm Springs Tribe, and local landowners to enhance the overall watershed. Specific goals included facilitating the upstream migration and the protection of fish at river crossings. The anticipated result will be an increase in the steelhead population. We will be monitoring the situation in 2009.

Raptors

In June, we participated with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation in a well-publicized banding event in Toronto. The Foundation facilitates the recovery of endangered and threatened raptor species in Canada while helping to educate the public about environmental issues that may affect those efforts. The ankle bands we placed on the falcon chicks can be used to track them and check their status. Raising public awareness is just as important in conservation matters as supporting them financially.

Sometimes, our conservation efforts are more spontaneous. One of our Saskatchewan-based Keystone Pipeline construction crews noticed an immobile snowy owl by the road and arranged to have it taken to a registered rehabilitation centre where it was expected to recover completely from exhaustion while migrating.

Wildlife Habitat

TransCanada donated an 18-acre parcel of land to The City of Winnipeg under the Canadian federal government’s Ecological Gifts Program. The program helps landowners and conservation groups preserve Canada's natural heritage by eliminating the tax on capital gains for certified ecological gift donations. The land, adjacent to a City of Winnipeg green space, includes several areas along the La Salle River that harbour several species of birds, water animals and insects.

Songbirds

Some members of the public believe the large turbine blades on wind farms pose a significant hazard to birds. TransCanada has participated in scientific studies of the matter, which found little evidence to support this view. Such studies are done routinely both before a project begins and once it is in operation. TransCanada recently completed a one-year study at Baie-des-Sables. It showed that three birds died in the last year from flying into the blades. A single city skyscraper affects more birds than the entire 5,200 hectare Baie-des-Sables wind farm.

Rare plants

Our environmental vegetation surveys on the Keystone pipeline project revealed three rare plant communities that are protected by either federal or provincial legislation. The species are Slender Mouse-eared Cress, Tiny Cryptanthe, and Plains Rough Fescue. In addition to re-routing the line to avoid these plants, we will be collaborating on 10-year research projects to learn more about the plants and the best means of protecting them.

These examples of our environmental values in action are the logical outcome of the comprehensive environmental protection plans that precede all our projects. Opportunities for habitat enhancement are explored during various reclamation programs conducted throughout the life of our pipeline system.

TransCanada also takes part in collaborative research projects that help us understand wildlife and the impact our activities have on their habitats. For example, we represent the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) on the multi-stakeholder Species at Risk Advisory Committee. The committee advises the Minister of the Environment on the administration of the Species at Risk Act by exchanging information, advice and recommendations concerning the protection of species at risk, promoting and encouraging effective stewardship of Canada’s biological diversity, and encouraging efficiency, clarity and consistency in the administration of the legislation.