Testing & Restoration

Pipeline trench backfilled.

The final step in the pipeline construction is a hydrostatic test using water pressurized to a point higher than the maximum allowable operating pressure for eight hours.

Easement cleaned up and restored.

After a successful test, Spectra Energy crews will begin cleanup and restoration of the easement and surrounding property to the original condition or better.

Hydrostatic Testing

As various long sections are completed and backfilled, they are filled with water and pressurized to a point higher than the maximum pressure the pipe will ever be operated. This test pressure is held for a minimum of eight continuous hours.

Cleanup & Restoration

This process starts as soon as the pipe is backfilled and continues until the construction work area is restored and re-vegetated. All grade cuts are replaced to their original contours and the work area is seeded, fertilized and mulched to restore ground cover and to minimize erosion.

Temporary work spaces will be allowed to return to their previous state, either wooded or open. The permanent pipeline right of way will be periodically mowed to prevent trees from growing in this area.

How We Restore Agricultural Areas

Rights of way through rural areas are carefully restored so that agricultural uses—like pastures and cultivated crops—can resume.

Topsoil Segregation

  • Topsoil is segregated from the construction work areas in annually cultivated or rotated agricultural lands (except pasture), hayfields and other areas at the landowner’s request.
  • To prevent the mixing of topsoil with subsoil, topsoil is stripped from either the full work area or from the trench and subsoil storage area (ditch plus spoilside method).
  • Every effort is made to segregate the entire topsoil layer in soils with less than 12 inches of topsoil.
  • At least 12 inches of topsoil is segregated in soils with more than 12 inches of topsoil.
  • Gaps are left in the topsoil piles to allow water to be diverted off the construction work areas.
  • No topsoil is used for padding over the pipe, to backfill the trench, or for trench plugs across the trench.

Trench Plugs

Temporary trench plugs are barriers across the open ditch that typically consists of compacted subsoil or sandbags (soft plugs) or unexcavated portions of the ditch (hard plugs). They serve to reduce erosion and to provide access across the trench for livestock. They are installed for livestock crossings in the best locations as specified by the landowner.

Restoration

  • Excess rock is removed from at least the top 12 inches of soil to the extent practical in all rotated and permanent cropland, hayfields, pastures and other areas at the landowner’s request. The size, density, and distribution of rock on the construction work area should be similar to adjacent areas not disturbed by construction.
  • Every effort is made to remove stones greater than four inches if the off right of way areas do not contain stones greater than four inches. The landowner may approve other rock size provisions in writing.
  • Topsoil and subsoil is tested for compaction at regular intervals in agricultural areas disturbed by construction activities. Tests are conducted on the same soil type under similar moisture conditions in undisturbed areas to identify approximate preconstruction conditions. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-style cone penetrometers or other appropriate devices are used to conduct tests.
  • Severely compacted areas are plowed with a paraplow or other deep tillage implement. In areas where topsoil is segregated, the subsoil will be plowed before replacing the segregated topsoil. Or, the landowner could opt to plant and plow under a “green manure” crop, such as alfalfa, to decrease soil bulk density and improve soil structure. If subsequent construction and cleanup activities result in further compaction, additional tilling is conducted.
  • Segregated topsoil is spread back over the construction work area and restored to its original profile.
  • The disturbed areas is limed, fertilized, seeded and mulched.

Monitoring after Construction

  • Follow-up inspections of all disturbed areas are conducted after the first and second growing seasons to determine the success of re-vegetation.
  • Crops are monitored for at least two years to determine the need for additional restoration.
  • Re-vegetation is considered successful if upon visual survey the density and cover of non-nuisance vegetation (or crops in cultivated cropland) are similar in density and cover to adjacent undisturbed lands.
  • If vegetative cover and density are not similar or there are excessive noxious weeds after two full growing seasons, a professional agronomist will be consulted to determine the need for additional restoration measures (such as fertilizing or reseeding). The measures recommended by the agronomist are implemented.
  • Problems with drainage and irrigation systems resulting from pipeline construction in active agricultural areas are monitored and corrected.
  • Spectra Energy will file quarterly activity reports with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission that document problems, including those identified by landowners, and corrective actions taken, for at least two years following construction.