The Trans Mountain Expansion Project is subject to 156 conditions. The conditions are enforced by the Canada Energy Regulator (CER) and demonstrate the rigour and detail that will go into every stage of the Project to mitigate risks, respect the rights of those directly affected and operate safely. In addition, Trans Mountain has made hundreds of commitments to address concerns raised by the public, local and provincial governments and Indigenous communities that encompass a wide range of areas. Trans Mountain is required by the CER to implement each and every one of these commitments.
The 156 conditions apply during various stages of the Project’s life cycle, including before construction, during construction and during operation of the pipeline. Conditions are designed to reduce possible risks identified during the application process and ensure the pipeline is planned, built and operated safely.
The conditions cover a wide range of topics, including:
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Emergency preparedness and response conditions address emergency prevention, preparedness and response related to the pipeline and facilities.
Engineering and Safety
Conditions in the engineering and safety category address Line 1 (existing pipeline and reactivation segments), Line 2 (new pipeline & segments transferred from Line 1), pump stations.
Environment
Conditions in the environment category address air quality and greenhouse gasses, water quality, soil, vegetation and wetlands, fish and fish habitat and marine mammals.
Multidisciplinary
Conditions in the multidisciplinary category address Westridge delivery pipelines and Burnaby Mountain tunnel, Westridge Marine Terminal, Edmonton, Sumas and Burnaby Terminals, watercourses (freshwater) and Project-related marine shipping.
People, Communities and Lands
Conditions in the category of people, communities and lands address effects on communities (including Indigenous), specific effects on Indigenous interests, training, skills and employment, lands and routing.
Regulatory, Economic and Financial Oversight
Regulatory oversight conditions assist the NEB and all stakeholders in tracking construction progress and compliance. These conditions also assist the NEB in planning appropriate compliance verification activities.
Economic and financial oversight conditions address the commercial support for the Project and financial assurances during the operational life of the pipeline.
A complete list of the 156 required conditions can be found here.
The CER is responsible for verifying and ensuring Trans Mountain is in compliance with these conditions. It does this through inspections, management system audits, compliance meetings, manual or report reviews, emergency response exercise evaluations, information requests and information submissions. More information on the CER's Compliance Verification Toolkit is available in Section III of the CER’s Regulatory Framework web page.
