Enbridge Northern Gateway Project
Marine Mammal Protection Plan
June 6, 2013 – WWF Ocean Noise Workshop
Presentation Outline
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Overview of the Northern Gateway project
Potential routine effects on marine mammals
Marine Mammal Protection Plan
Proposed mitigation measures and commitments
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The Project – In a Nutshell…
• Proposing to build twin pipelines between Bruderheim,
Alberta and Kitimat, British Columbia
• Associated two-berth marine terminal
• 220 tanker calls per year
Proposed Northern Gateway Traffic
Vessel Class
Average Number Per Year
Type
DWT
Oil
Condensate
Total
Aframax
80,000 (min)
33
17
50
Suezmax
160,000 (avg)
65
55
120
VLCC
320,000 (max)
50
0
50
Open Water Area (OWA)
Confined Channel Assessment Area (CCAA)
Project Effects Assessment Area (PEAA)
Potential Routine Effects – Underwater Noise
Construction Activities – Kitimat Terminal
• Use of rock sockets (no pile driving)
• Underwater blasting
Operations – Marine Transportation Activities
• Auditory damage not predicted (noise ≥180dB re:
1µPa)
• Potential behavioural effects (noise ≥ 120dB re: 1µPa)
• May result in reduced feeding efficiency, temporary
displacement, or energetic stress
• Herding has been identified as a potential concern in
confined channels
Comprehensive Mitigation Program
Northern Gateway is committed to minimizing or
eliminating adverse environmental effects of the
Northern Gateway Pipelines Project on the marine
environment.
Marine Mammal Protection Plan
Marine Mammal Protection Plan
• Purpose: to outline measures that Northern Gateway
will implement in the PEAA, CCAA and OWA to
manage and monitor Project-related environmental
effects on marine mammals associated with
underwater noise, blasting, and other potential marine
mammal-vessel interactions
• Currently filed as a framework document
• Living document – multiple iterations
• Comprehensive MMPP will be developed through an
engagement process that will include:
– Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO),
– participating Aboriginal organizations, and
– external research organizations and experts
Means of Reducing Effects
Three Stages to Consider Potential for Mitigations
Design
• Reduce noise at the source
Operations
• Reduce noise produced
Monitoring and Follow-up
• Adaptive management and research
Design Stage Considerations
• Northern Gateway is committed to incorporating best
commercially-available technology at the time of the
design and construction of purpose-built tugs, so that
escort and harbour tugs produce the least underwater
noise possible.
• Propeller design
• Vibration reduction
Operations Stage Considerations
Speed Reductions
• Reduce the relative
likelihood of a vessel
strike, and the likelihood
of severe injury or
mortality
• Reduce the intensity of
underwater noise
• Throughout the year,
tankers and tugs will
travel at 10-12 knots in
the CCAA
Speed Reductions
High Whale Density Area
• Travel at 8 to 10 knots in
core humpback whale
area
• Boundaries will be
refined through 6 years
of marine mammal
density surveys
• Dropping from 15 kts to
9.6 kts reduce sound
input by nearly 12 dB
• Comparison – 10 dB:
– Extent: 1/3
– Perception: ½ as loud
Monitoring Stage Considerations
Research and Monitoring
• Remote detection technologies – commitment to a
four-year passive acoustic monitoring study
Cooperative Research Initiative
• Northern Gateway has committed to undertaking a
cooperative research initiative and broad-scale
regional assessment program in collaboration with
government, industry (shipping, fishing, and
recreational fishing), other project operators,
participating Aboriginal groups, Stakeholders
Goal
• Cooperative regional approach to developing
mitigation measures for limiting the effects of vessels
on marine mammals.
Things We Didn’t Talk About…
Marine Mammal Protection Plan
• Construction - Underwater Blasting
– predictive acoustic modelling and in-field validation
– marine mammal observers during all loud activities
(i.e., blasting, dredging, and drilling)
– support vessel maintenance and operations
• Quantitative Vessel Strike Analysis
• Whale Spotting Vessel
• Port Information and Operations Manual
• Informational DVD and Video Package for Tankers
Other Aspects
• Acoustic modelling done as part of the environmental
assessment
Thank you for your time.
Questions?