Thursday, January 17, 2008
Fort Howe Hotel
Claude MacKinnon, Co-Chair
Susan Harris
Robin McAdam
Dale Plant
Gordon Dalzell
Al McDougall
Ellen Murphy
Horst Sauerteig
Christine Saumure
David Peterson
Tammy Calvin
Guest:
Dale Plant- Blasting Specialist
Update on General Manager position for Brunswick Pipeline: Mark Savory has replaced Mike MacIntyre following his resignation. For now, Mark’s focus will be on construction. Until other arrangements are made, Robin McAdam will fill in as the Brunswick Pipeline co-chair for the SJCLC.
The agenda was accepted as presented.
One change made to Minutes – Ridgewood Veterans Unit is the correct name for the facility. There being no other amendments, the minutes were accepted with the noted change.
Tracking of Commitments on-line- Two individuals are now working on this item. Commitments on the list are single-event issues, are on-going or are tied to other commitments on the list. It will continue to be worked on, to try to create an understandable document.
The number of Saint Johners working on the Pipeline- number is undetermined. Agreements have been reached with the First Nations communities in regards to opportunities for their members, and in fact the urban clearing contractor is a First Nations company. Brunswick Pipeline’s work with the First Nations has been successful in providing opportunities to a community which has experienced limited opportunities. Several members of the committee expressed an interest in knowing only how many Saint Johners are employed on the project. Others were pleased that the benefits are extending beyond Saint John’s workforce. It was pointed out that the benefits promised were for Saint John and region, and for others in the province as well.
Status of City Representative to sit on the Committee: Peter Hanlon is currently on leave. Susan Harris will make inquiries. The community co-chair also offered to contact City Manager’s Office to ask for a replacement in the interim.
Two videos were shown: The first was the Louisbourg Pipelines Inc. corporate video and the second was the Rockwood Park text blast of January 11, 2008.
Dale Plant, who is in charge of blasting for Louisbourg Pipelines under the Brunswick Pipeline project, provided an overview of blasting including how it fits into the overall construction of a pipeline. Dale has been working in the pipeline industry since 1971 and has been blasting since he was 15 years old.
Grading: Surface soils, roots and rocks are removed in preparation for trenching. These are set aside so they may be spread back over the right of way after construction, where possible. Grading is done to ensure that run-off from rain or snow melt will not run directly into a watercourse or wetland, and it creates a level work area for crews and equipment for the remainder of the construction process.
Trench Blasting: Using an excavator, crews dig a trench for the pipeline. Typically, the trench is twice the width of the pipe and deep enough to provide approximately one metre of cover over the pipe after installation (deeper in other areas such as road crossings, etc.). Controlled blasting of bedrock will be required in many areas along the route. All blasting is conducted according to strict safety guidelines and is carefully monitored. Trench blasting charges will normally only be set off once per day, and a typical day should see 600-700 metres of trench created.
The depth and type of rock determines the blasting techniques and rock type determines the intensity of blasting. The most popular and widely used blasting formations are:
* square pattern where the dynamite is placed forming a square (4 corners);
* zipper where the dynamite is placed 5 feet apart in a zig zag formation (top to bottom) ; and
* dice 5, where the dynamite is placed in the formation to look like the pattern on a dice showing five dots.
The sounds made during blasting indicate a good or poor blast. Smaller sounds are better and indicate a successful blast whereas a louder blast can mean an ineffective blast. A good blast will move everything underneath it. In cases where blasting must be done below or near existing pipe, such as a water or sewage line, the existing pipe is wrapped with a wooded sleeve to protect it from any dangers. Dynamite is placed in sink holes and the site is well matted. Dale requires that blasting areas be kept neat, with rock removed once the blasting is complete.
Overall Process of Blasting: In rocky areas, blasting is an essential part of the grading process. After grading, trenching takes place, which also requires blasting in rocky areas. Only after these two steps have been completed can the rest of the work proceed, including stringing/bending; crossings of road, railway and utilities; watercourse crossings; welding/coating; lower in/installing the pipe; backfilling the trench; pressure testing; and clean up/restoration.
Effects on Wildlife: Many years of experience has shown that wildlife will come to the site and watch from a distance. Wildlife will get used to the noises of construction and that and pre-blast warning sirens will send wildlife running to deeper areas in the woods, not into the open. After the blast has been done, wildlife will come back to watch again.
Long term right of way affects: low brush provides a greater source of food and actually draws wildlife to the area. It is not a deterrent to wildlife.
Storage of Dynamite: The dynamite is stored in bullet-proof steel containers made with a 6 inch stone wall, more steel and then plywood to ensure materials don’t spark. The containers have interlocking hinges and very tiny openings, too small to see through. The containers are stored in quarries or gravel pits. Materials are transported in amounts as needed using special vehicles.
Rockwood Park- Clearing and grubbing of the right of way in Rockwood Park is finished and grading and blasting continue. Planning for the trail section in the north-west corner of Lily Lake also continues. This trail section will be built into the side of the steep hill in that location to create an accessible walking trail made up of a boardwalk-like structure and extended trail from the point where the NB Trail meets the Clean Air Trail. As Brunswick Pipeline has permission to work on the right of way only and for insurance purposes, the City of Saint John will be in charge of the work. Brunswick Pipeline will contribute the $450,000 toward construction of this section of trail, which is what would have been spent on developing the initially promised trail on top of the completed right of way.
HDD - A tent has been set up on the Spar Cove Road side of the St. John River, which will provide the primary noise mitigation related to the horizontal directional drilling process. The Milford drill site will be graded before erection of the tent there, which will likely take place in mid-February.
Rural - 30 kms of right of way have been cleared between St. Stephen and Saint John. The clearing process will continue as will acid rock testing.
Pipe Trains- Trains dedicated to carrying 40- and 80-foot sections (joints) pipe for the project, each between 48-50 cars, will begin to arrive shortly. The first few trains will off-load from a Rothesay Avenue rail yard and pipe will be transported overnight to the storage yard in east Saint John. Subsequent trains will arrive and be offloaded at the NB Southern rail yard on Dever Road and in McAdam. Pipe from these locations will be transported to storage yards in Lorneville and Pennfield. Pipe joints will not be moved to the right of way until Louisbourg Pipelines is ready for it.
A meeting was held with Horst Sauerteig and Ralph Mayer related to the road crossing at Millidge Ave and Boars Head Road. The two discussed road bore drilling and horizontal directional drilling. Ralph explained that in the hypothetical case of a gas leak, as is Horst’s concern, an HDD would leave no room for the gas to move or to detonate. Pinhole leaks are not a great probability with modern pipelines, and it would be very unlikely that gas would enter basements of neighbouring houses. The situation is still a concern to Horst, however, he understands the issue from Mr. Mayer and reported that he accepts the company’s position.
Suggestions for future meeting topics were made. One was a request for a presentation about the contingency wet crossing and a presentation about emergency response planning by Fire Chief and Chair of the Saint John Emergency Management Organization, Rob Simonds.
With respect to suggestions to move the venue/location for some meetings to other parts of the city, Susan reported that she has been looking into use of the Lily Lake Pavilion and Champlain Heights elementary school. The committee was agreeable to both, and Susan will proceed with bookings.
* Thursday, February 21, 2008, 6 p.m., Lily Lake Pavilion. NOTE: Meeting moved to Wednesday, February 27, 2008, same time and place, to allow any members who wish to attend the scheduled NEB’s public information session.
* Thursday, March 13, 2008, 6 p.m., Champlain Heights Elementary School
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