ENERGY EAST PIPELINE

Today was an Open House for the Energy East Pipeline. Lots of people to talk to and lots of fact sheets - likely info that is on their own Blog or website. The following factsheet was offered as likely the most useful for MY Blog to post. While the actual work won't likely start until 2016 they are making sure the public knows what will happen. Whoever the contractor is that gets the job will be responsible for hiring both skilled and unskilled labour. Since there already exists a pipeline in our area construction work would be on building extra pumping stations along the line.

Energy East Pipeline August 2013 Fact Sheet

"Our Commitment to the Environment"

"As one of North America's leading energy infrastructure companies, TransCanada respects the diversity of landscapes in which we operate by considering environmental and cultural aspects of our business activities. TransCanada strives to minimize its environmental footprint as we fulfill our obligation to address energy demands across the continent."

"At TransCanada, environmental responsibility is more than just talk. We translate our words into actions by applying an environmental focus to the complete lifecycle of our projects, from business development to design, construction and operations. TransCanada develops its projects in compliance with all applicable environmental legislation and regulations to protect the environment. An important first step in a pipeline project is to develop an understanding of the existing environments along the route so that we can anticipate and avoid or mitigate environmental impacts to the greatest extent possible."

"Almost 70 % of the pipeline is already in the ground and more than half the length of the new pipeline segments will run parallel to existing industrial rights-of-way, helping to minimize the impact on the land and effects on the environment."

"TransCanada is devoted to minimizing its environmental impact along the proposed pipeline route. Recognizing the importance of native topography as well as soil and top soil conservation, the project team will implement the most effective methods and techniques designed for the highest quality reclamation process. In all cases, great care and planning will be taken to minimize and avoid impacts to the environment, including rare or endangered species and habitats, significant water crossings, historical and paleontological resources and native rangelands."

"TransCanada encourages public input into the development of Energy East and will be engaging with landowners, regulatory agencies and directly affected stakeholders about all aspects of the project including the environmental and socio-economic effects assessment."

"As part of its regulatory applications to the National Energy Board, TransCanada will undertake a detailed Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment which evaluates the social and environmental resources that may be interacted with along the Project."

"TransCanada designs, constructs and operates all projects to conserve environmental resources by re-establishing the essential biophysical characteristics of the environment ensuring equivalent land capability and biological diversity are maintained. TransCanada will maintain a right-of-way easement for the lifespan of the pipeline, and will work with landowners to address any issues that might arise due to its activities."

"Pipelines are the safest, most reliable, economical and environmentally favourable way to transport oil and petroleum products throughout North America. In addition to the gas and oil needed to operate our cars and trucks, petroleum products are used by many other industries to produce valuable materials, including drugs and pharmaceuticals, plastics, chemicals, and construction materials. Pipelines are a vital part of our energy infrastructure and have been quietly serving us for decades."

SUSTAINABILITY

"We're proud to be recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index as one of the leading energy infrastructure organizations on the continent. In 2012, we were appointed to the Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index from the Carbon Disclosure Project."

"TransCanada has also received widespread recognition for its efforts and success in such areas as social responsibility, safety. climate change, energy consumption, human resources development, knowledge management, stakeholder relations and corporate governance. In 2013, Canadian-based Corporate Knights, the world's largest circulation magazine focused specifically on corporate responsibility, named TransCanada as one of 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada."

"Here are just a few of the projects we're proud to be involved with:

'TransCanada owns or has interest in more than 11,800 megawatts of power generation. That's enough to power approximately 12 million homes, and more than one-third of this power comes from alternative and renewable energy sources."

"TransCanada partially owns the Cartier Wind Energy project in Quebec which is the largest of its kind in Canada. Its total annual production represents 2.3 terawatt hours (TWh) or enough energy to meet the electricity needs of about 150,000 households in the Province of Quebec."

"TransCanada's new Waste Heat Recovery facility in British Columbia makes use of excess heat from a compressor station to produce about 6.5 megawatts of clean, emission-less electricity, which is enough to power more than 4,000 British Columbia households annually."

"TransCanada is an avid supporter of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited (U.S. and Canada) and Nature Canada in a series of initiatives that help restore, protect and conserve natural habitats and promote local involvement in protection of habitat."

"TransCanada's commitment to environmental and social responsibility has led to many more exciting energy innovations. To discover more visit our website, check out our blog or follow us on Twitter."
EnergyEast@transcanada.com

All their factsheets are on Recycled paper with the dreaded FSC trademark.

There will be three more Open Houses in Ontario .