RECL2019 TransCanada

Pipeline industry leader brings decades of expertise

TransCanada remains committed to innovative soil conservation and reclamation practices

Pipeline reclamation crossing a watercourse in an urban area
TransCanada has a long-standing commitment to protecting the environment where we work and live. We believe that when we build an asset, we temporarily borrow the land. Over the course of our more than 65-year history, TransCanada has successfully reclaimed hundreds of thousands of acres of land throughout North America.

Early in our history, an entity of what would eventually become TransCanada, created significant impacts on Canada’s pipeline construction practices. In the early 1970s, the Alberta Gas Trunk Line Company utilized practices such as conservation of topsoil and immediate reseeding of disturbances, which were considered to be progressive and effective measures in right-of-way restoration. 

Pipeline industry leader brings decades of expertise

TransCanada remains committed to innovative soil conservation and reclamation practices

TransCanada has a long-standing commitment to protecting the environment where we work and live. We believe that when we build an asset, we temporarily borrow the land. Over the course of our more than 65-year history, TransCanada has successfully reclaimed hundreds of thousands of acres of land throughout North America.

Early in our history, an entity of what would eventually become TransCanada, created significant impacts on Canada’s pipeline construction practices. In the early 1970s, the Alberta Gas Trunk Line Company utilized practices such as conservation of topsoil and immediate reseeding of disturbances, which were considered to be progressive and effective measures in right-of-way restoration. 
Pipeline reclamation crossing a watercourse in an urban area
In the late 1970s, research initiatives were established to measure the success of vegetation on pipeline restoration in native prairie, cultivated lands and forested ecosystems across the province of Alberta. After a name change in 1980 to NOVA Corporation (NOVA), NOVA continued to lead industry practices and influence policy development on implementing innovative construction practices and reclamation techniques based on both practical experience and knowledge obtained through corporate funded scientific research.
NOVA was at the forefront in reclamation research which included numerous experts within the industry as well as within the organization. Individuals such as A. Fedkenheuer, S. Landsburg, A. Lees, M. Houser, and many others, were instrumental in instituting research initiatives and developing construction and reclamation procedures. Work which would allow for year-round construction practices in all ecoregions of Alberta, while ensuring soil quality and reclamation potential were maintained.
This work led to technological innovations within the industry, such as the adjustable step-blade, rock-saw and roto-stripper, pellet injecting paratil, and other modified equipment. Procedural innovation also ensued, resulting in development of numerous soil conservation procedures, including 3-lift soils handling techniques, as well as providing new insight and refinement of existing techniques in prairie restoration, forest soil conservation and reclamation practices, minimal surface disturbance techniques, pesticide contaminated site restoration, and bio-engineering methods.
Right-of-way prior to construction
Right-of-way during construction
Right-of-way following reclamation
NOVA was also a supporter of the development of government policy surrounding pipeline construction - in providing insight through operating experience and applying and utilizing developed criteria. The NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. Advisory Board was initiated in October 1996, which included members of the Alberta government and technical experts, that ultimately developed the ‘Reclamation Assessment Criteria for Pipelines - 2001 Draft’ to be used in pipeline reclamation certification applications. Over that time, NOVA merged with TransCanada Pipeline Ltd in 1998.
TransCanada continues to enhance its soil conservation and reclamation initiatives throughout its extensive network across Canada. New construction technologies and practices, scientific studies, and practical experience continue to provide opportunities for TransCanada to gain an understanding of natural variation in a regional context, and the benefits to establishing procedures that recognize these differences. While many of these practices and initiatives were established within the province of Alberta, they continue to be utilized across Canada and even into the United States, as best management practices and as a base for continuous improvement. 
TransCanada’s continued dedication to monitoring conservation and reclamation of all our assets allows for long-term evaluation of the efficacy of current practices, through ensuring equivalent land capability has been maintained on all reclaimed disturbances.

TransCanada is so pleased to have had the opportunity to be involved with so many talented employees, industry partners, technical experts, and regulatory agencies over the years that have been, and are still dedicated to enhancing conservation and reclamation performance in the pipeline industry
Soil inspection in final clean-up
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