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Imperial's Sarnia Products Pipeline
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Imperial’s Sarnia Products Pipeline is important infrastructure that provides products used by households and businesses across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. This includes a significant portion of jet fuel for Toronto Pearson International Airport, as well as gasoline and diesel fuel that keeps people, goods and services moving throughout our region.
Operating safely in the region for many years, Imperial is proactively replacing approximately 63-kilometres of the line with new pipe.
Waterdown to Finch Project location
The Waterdown to Finch Project runs from Imperial’s Waterdown pump station in rural Hamilton to the company’s terminal storage facility in Toronto’s North York area.
Ontario Energy Board regulatory application
In March 2020, the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) issued a Decision and Order to grant leave to construct the Waterdown to Finch Project with conditions. Imperial acknowledges the conditions specified by the OEB and is committed to addressing any requirements in a timely manner.
The OEB Decision and Order is an important milestone that reflects the robust environmental planning, Indigenous consultation, stakeholder engagement, cultural, social and heritage assessment process, and engineering and design work that has taken place since the Project launched in spring 2018.
Imperial submitted the Waterdown to Finch Project leave to construct application to the province’s energy regulator in early 2019. Key documents related to the application, including the Decision and Order, are available below in the Resources section under Leave to Construct and on the OEB’s application page.
Work timeline*
Current status
Imperial is committed to ensuring the safety and reliability of the Sarnia Products Pipeline throughout the construction period of the Waterdown to Finch Project. The existing pipeline will continue to operate reliably until the Waterdown to Finch Project is complete.
In addition to receiving OEB approval in March 2020, Imperial has since passed a number of additional permit approvals and is now able to begin construction of the proactive replacement initiative in early December 2020. Imperial will commence construction activities on the western end of the Project, beginning with the first 11-kilometres located in Hamilton and Burlington.
Imperial has selected a third-party contractor to complete the initial phase of construction.
The replacement project is anticipated to create 400 direct jobs in Ontario supporting project management and construction activities. Imperial and our third-party contractor will look to work with local and Indigenous contractors and business services throughout the life of the Waterdown to Finch Project.
To protect all of our stakeholders including employees, contractors and the general public, Imperial will follow all relevant public health measures and COVID-19 workplace guidelines along the entire Project footprint.
Minimizing construction impacts
Imperial will respect all landowners’ property and will seek to minimize disruptions during construction. Most replacement work will take place in close vicinity to the pipeline.
Imperial builds safety and integrity into its pipelines from the outset of construction. Our pipeline projects have rigorous material, design and construction standards that comply with all applicable government and industry standards. Imperial is working closely with independent pipeline regulators and different levels of government to limit disturbance due to construction. To learn more about the construction techniques used in the Waterdown to Finch Project, such as open-cut construction and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) watch our video below.
While working to deliver the fuels and energy Canadians rely on every day, we aim to minimize our impact on the environment, local communities and Indigenous groups by routing pipelines around sensitive areas and adopting construction practices that decrease disruptions. This includes safely deactivating the current pipeline, which will cause the least disturbance to the local environment and minimize our construction footprint. To learn about the pipeline deactivation process, watch our video below.
Further detail about the construction methods and our approach to protecting the environment can be found in the Waterdown to Finch Project brochure or in our information session poster boards.
Focused on safety
Imperial’s safety performance is among the best in the Canadian energy industry. We attribute our record of safe and reliable operations to our preventative maintenance and proactive pipeline inspection programs. Learn how Imperial prepares for continued safe pipeline operations below.
Our commitment to community engagement
Imperial is committed to meaningful community, government and Indigenous engagement throughout the duration of the Project.
During the Project period, community members will have several ways to receive information and ask questions:
- Email: questions@imperialon.ca
- Phone: +1 416 586 1915
- Community information sessions (summer/fall 2018)
- Construction notices delivered to landowners and adjacent landowners a minimum of two weeks before activity begins
- Ongoing information sharing
We appreciate the patience of our neighbours, Indigenous groups and community members as we work to enhance the long-term safety and reliability of our existing operations.
Further details can be found in the Waterdown to Finch Project brochure.
Imperial in Ontario: supporting economic growth
As an integrated products company, we explore for, produce, refine and market products essential to society. Now, more than ever, projects like these are critical to our economy.
The total Project investment is anticipated to be approximately $385 million and approximately 400 direct jobs are expected to be created in Ontario supporting project management and construction activities.
Founded in Ontario: As Canada's largest refiner of petroleum products, we have more than 130 years of providing Canadians with reliable energy, while supporting our economy and protecting the environment.
Supporting Ontario households: Imperial employs approximately 1,200 employees and up to 3,500 contractors a day in Ontario. Imperial is looking to work with local contractors and business services, including from Indigenous groups, throughout the life of the project.
Major capital projects: Imperial has injected more than $750 million in capital investments in Ontario at our two refineries in Sarnia and Nanticoke. Investments include environmental improvements, energy conservation projects, clean fuel facilities and infrastructure improvements.
Research and development in Ontario: Over the past decade, Imperial has invested more than $300 million in research and development in the province. To learn more about our economic impact, review the Waterdown to Finch Project brochure.
Resources
Project brochure and infographic
Ontario Energy Board Leave to Construct process
Leave to Construct application*
Ontario Energy Board route realignment review
Environmental report
*Documents split to accommodate large file sizes. Please follow the links below to access the compiled documents on the Ontario Energy Board’s website:
Leave to Construct application
Environmental report
Leave to Construct application
Environmental report
Leave to Construct interrogatory responses
Notice of Commencement of study
Compliance with Canadian Navigable Waters Act
Under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act (Act), Imperial is required to follow federal reporting and notifications requirements as it pertains to areas of work where the proposed pipeline installation will cross bodies of water. Below is a public attestation notice that indicates Imperial has complied with the reporting requirements under the Act administered by Transport Canada. Imperial is proposing to install four pipeline crossings under navigable waters using a trenchless pipeline construction method. The location of each crossing can be found within the notice. Through the use of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) trenchless technology, the proposed crossings will be installed below the watercourses and no construction or vehicle access will occur within the ordinary high water mark.
Community information session notifications
Online information session
Regional maps
*The following maps should be considered draft and are subject to change. Last updated July 2020.
Contact us
Email: questions@imperialon.caRelated content
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We are integrated, which means we do business across all stages in the oil and gas journey. We explore for and produce oil and natural gas and transport it to our refineries, where we make it into products Canadians use every day.
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