Administrative Monetary Penalty – Landstar Projects Ltd. – AMP-001-2017

Administrative Monetary Penalty – Landstar Projects Ltd. – AMP-001-2017 [PDF 146 KB]

NOTICE OF VIOLATION

REFERENCE NUMBER: AMP-001-2017

Information for Pipeline Company / Third Party / Individual:

Information for Pipeline Company / Third Party / Individual

Name:	Landstar Projects Ltd.
Contact:	Jasvinder Aujla and Kulwant Cheema
Title:
Address:	16726 40th Avenue
City:	Surrey
Province / State:	BC,  V3Z 1E5
Telephone:
Fax:
E-mail:

TOTAL PENALTY AMOUNT: $28,000

Date of Notice: 15 May, 2017

Regulatory Instrument #:

On or about January 12-13, 2016 Landstar Projects Limited was observed to be in violation of a NEB regulatory requirement. This violation is subject to an administrative monetary penalty, as outlined below.

1. VIOLATION DETAILS

Location of Violation:

Pipeline Crossing, Part I

6 Failure to excavate as prescribed or to obtain leave (Type B)

2. RELEVANT FACTS

Briefly describe reasonable grounds to believe a violation has occurred

On 21 January, 2016, Kinder Morgan Canada (KMC) reported an unauthorized activity on the TransMountain Pipeline ULC Mainline to the National Energy Board (NEB) in accordance with the National Energy Board Pipeline Crossing Regulations, Part II, SOR/88-529, paragraph 13(1)(a). This unauthorized activity (UX2016-003) was reported to the NEB's Event Reporting System (ERS) as a ground disturbance resulting from an excavation activity which was discovered, and having occurred, on 13 January 2016.

As a result of the NEB's internal review of this reported event, it was discovered that:

1. On 12 January, 2016, KMC Ground Patrol discovered that A&G Excavating Ltd., a contractor for Landstar Projects Ltd. (developer), was doing ground disturbance work within 20 metres (m) North of KMC's Mainline pipeline without written permission by KMC. Photos of the unauthorized activity near the TransMountain Mainline pipeline were taken on 12 January 2016 by the KMC patroller. A stop work order was also issued on 12 January 2016 at the site by the KMC patroller to Mr. Parmar of A&G Excavating Ltd. for operating an excavator within the KMC 30m safety zone. Work was stopped until the next day when KMC could attend the site and issue a work permit. When the KMC patroller questioned why the work was being performed without authorization, Mr. Parmar stated that he was aware of the location of the pipeline but had been told by Mr. Aujla of Landstar Projects Ltd. that no permitting from KMC was required. When the KMC patroller spoke with Mr. Aujla of Landstar Projects Ltd. about whether a permit was needed, Mr. Aujla stated that he thought they were outside the 30m zone. Mr. Aujla then placed a ticket with KMC for work to continue.
2. On 13 January, 2016, KMC PLP Technician went on site to issue a Safety Zone Permit, and provided copies of KMC Ground Disturbance Pipeline Protection Requirements to A&G Excavating Ltd and to Landstar Projects Ltd. The PLP Technician took more photos of the proximity of the ground disturbance to the KMC Right-of-Way (RoW). The PLP Technician's report also stated that in the past, he had met with Landstar representatives Mr. Aujla and Mr. Cheema regarding new subdivision projects to issue 30m permits, inspect Proximity Installations and review KMC Requirements for Ground Disturbance.
3. On 21 January, 2016, as a result of its investigation, KMC sent a letter to Landstar Projects Ltd. (Mr. Jasvinder Aujla) and A&G Excavating Ltd. (Mr. Kulwinder Parmar) regarding the unauthorized activity which was noted to have occurred on 13 January 2016 near the TransMountain Mainline pipeline and its RoW, without necessary KMC permits and supervision. The letter further states that this activity was in contravention of section 112 of the National Energy Board Act (NEB Act).
4. On 7 April, 2016, KMC submitted its final report to the NEB on UX2016-003, which included its letter to Landstar Projects Ltd. on 21 January 2016, internal report and photos.
5. On 21 April, 2016, NEB staff followed up about the unauthorized activity UX2016-003, and left a voice mail message for Mr. Parmar, A&G Excavating Ltd. On 29 April, 2016, Mr. Parmar returned the call and stated that the developer, Landstar Projects Ltd., said they had a permit. He found out later that the permit was for another job.
6. On 29 April, 2016, NEB staff followed up about the unauthorized activity and left a voice mail message for Mr. Cheema, a partner in Landstar Projects Ltd. On 2 May, 2016, Mr. Cheema returned the call and said he would have Mr. Aujla phone back with the details. NEB staff stressed the importance of placing a One-Call for ground disturbance work.
7. On 4 May, 2016, NEB staff spoke with Mr. Aujla, Landstar Projects Ltd., and discussed the unauthorized activity UX2016-003 and requested certain documentation.
8. On 5 May, 2016, NEB staff sent a damage prevention letter to A&G Excavating Ltd. regarding UX2016-003 which occurred on or about 12-13 January 2016, outlining the requirements for working in and around federally regulated pipelines and provided copies of various NEB publications. A similar letter was also sent to Landstar Projects Ltd. (Mr. Aujla and Mr. Cheema) for UX2016-003 which was reported to the NEB to have occurred on 13 January 2016, and requested that information and documentation in relation to the unauthorized activity and in relation to company safety procedures be submitted in writing to the NEB by May 31, 2016.
9. On 23 May, 2016, NEB staff received an email from Mr. Aujla which was in response to an earlier email from NEB staff on 2 November, 2015, that was in relation to another event (UX2015-043) that had been reported to the NEB's ERS by KMC in April 2015 (UX2015-043). Event UX2015-043 was regarding an unauthorized activity directly across the TransMountain Mainline Pipeline and RoW on 6 April 2015 without KMC permits or supervision. Mr. Aujla said they were working on submitting the requested information that week.
10. On 20 June, 2016, NEB staff followed up by email with Mr. Aujla indicating the documentation requested in the 5 May, 2016 letter had not been received.
11. On 15 July, 2016, NEB staff sent Landstar Projects Ltd. via email and ordinary mail an amended copy of the damage prevention letter of May 5, 2016 showing the correction in highlight. The information corrected was the address location of the unauthorized activity, which was originally noted as "10532-159B Street Surrey BC" and corrected to "10552-159B Street Surrey BC".
12. On 21 July, 2016, NEB staff sent an email to Mr. Aujla as the NEB had not received the requested information in relation to the two unauthorized activities UX2015-043 and UX2016-003. The email stated that the files were being referred to the NEB Enforcement and Investigation Team for further review. NEB staff later received a phone message from Mr. Aujla regarding a call from the NEB staff.
13. On 22 July, 2016, NEB staff spoke with Mr. Aujla, as the requested information had not been received. He mentioned that they were renovating their office, and he did not have the damage prevention letter. He asked if the letter could be emailed to him again. NEB staff emailed a copy of the amended damage prevention dated 5 May 2016 for UX2016-003.
14. On 22 July, 2016, NEB staff received a letter from Mr. Kulwant Cheema, Director of Landstar Projects Ltd., stating that “ We would like to apologize for our offences and negligence due to miscomprehension of the National Energy Board Pipeline Crossing Regulations”. Mr. Cheema provided an explanation about the two unauthorized activities UX2016-003 and UX2015-043 which he called “offences”. The letter also described Landstar Project Ltd.'s safety procedure for excavating and constructing near federally regulated pipelines.
15. On 23 August, 2016, NEB staff contacted Mr. Aujla by phone to follow up on Landstar Projects Ltd.'s process and procedures for excavation activities near pipelines. Mr. Aujla provided the following information:
    1. Landstar does not have written procedures pertaining to work around pipelines. Their documentation is limited to brochures provided to Landstar by the NEB and KMC. Mr. Aujla and Mr. Cheema have a handbook they follow.
    2. Landstar always uses the same contractor for excavation. Mr. Aujla and Mr. Cheema coordinate the contractors.
    3. Either Mr. Aujla or Mr. Cheema will remain on the job site when work is being conducted. They have meetings with contractors to make sure things go smoothly.
    4. Landstar makes the BC One-Call, not the contractor.
16. On 20 September, 2016, NEB staff requested confirmation from KMC regarding the dates and physical addresses of the two unauthorized activities, as Landstar Projects Ltd.’s letter of 22 July 2016 to the NEB appeared to be incorrect. KMC provided the following: Landstar Projects Ltd. conducted two unauthorized activities at the following locations:
    1. 2015/04/06, 10532 159B Street, Surrey, BC, replacement of a wood panel fence, NEB file #UX-2015-043; and
    2. 2016-01-13, 10552 159B Street, Surrey, BC, ground disturbance completed 20 metres from the pipeline in a new residential development, NEB file #UX-2016-003.

As a result of this unauthorized activity that occurred on or about 12-13 January 2016, Landstar Projects Ltd. was found to have conducted an excavation activity without leave of the NEB or written permission of KMC pursuant to paragraphs 112(5)(b)(iii) of the National Energy Board Act and subsection 6(b) of the National Energy Board Pipeline Crossing Regulations, Part I, provisions in force at the time of the unauthorized activity, which state:

National Energy Board Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. N-7 Subsection 112(5):
(5) The Board may make orders or regulations governing
(b) the measures to be taken by any person in relation to
(iii) excavations within thirty metres of a pipeline;

National Energy Board Pipeline Crossing Regulations, Part I SOR/88-528
Subsection 6 (b):

6 – Leave of the Board is not required for an excavation, other than an excavation referred to in section 7, if
(b) the excavator obtains written permission from the pipeline company prior to the excavation and accepts any conditions set out in the permission;

Although KMC’s TransMountain Mainline pipeline was not struck and damaged, it was an active pipeline on 12-13 January 2016 carrying oil. At the location of the ground disturbance, the pipeline is in close proximity to a densely populated residential area, including: Fraser Heights Recreation Centre (106m), Fraser Heights Secondary School (370m), three strip malls (570m) and the Trans-Canada Highway (160m), and thus the unauthorized disturbance causes concern for the safety of the public and the environment.

3. PENALTY CALCULATION

(a) BASELINE PENALTY (Gravity Value = 0)

[Refer to AMP Regulations, Subsection 4(1)]

(b) APPLICABLE GRAVITY VALUE

[Refer to AMP Regulations, Subsection 4(2)]

Notes to explain decision to apply multiple daily penalties, or "Not Applicable"

Note: The total penalty amount shown is based on the period described in Step 1 above. If compliance has not been achieved, a subsequent Notice of Violation may be issued.

5. DUE DATE

Notes

You have the right to make a request for a review of the amount of the penalty or the facts of the violation, or both, within 30 days after the Notice of Violation was received.

If you do not pay the penalty nor request a review within the prescribed period, you are considered to have committed the violation and you are liable for the penalty set out in the Notice of Violation. The penalty is due on the date indicated above.

The unpaid penalty amount is a debt due to the Crown and may be recovered by collection procedures stipulated in the Financial Administration Act.

The information regarding the violation may be posted on the NEB website:

1. 30 days from the date this Notice of Violation was received or;
2. upon issuing a decision following a Request for Review.

To Make Payment:

You may remit your fee payment by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or by cheque payable to the order of Receiver General for Canada.

EFT payments can be arranged by contacting the Director of Financial Services, Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 16:00 Mountain Time:

• Telephone: 403-919-4743 / 800-899-1265
• Fax: 403-292-5503 / 877-288-8803

Cheques should be made out to the "Receiver General for Canada" and mailed to:

• National Energy Board
  Attention: Finance
  Centre 10, 517 – 10^th Avenue SW
  Calgary, Alberta
  T2R 0A8

Your completed Payment form should be enclosed with your payment.

To Request a Review

Pursuant to the NEB Act, Section 144, you may file a request for a review of this Notice of Violation by the Board.

The date of filing is the date on which the document is received, as indicated by the date on an e-mail submission or the stamped on the document by a NEB employee.

If you elect to make a request for a review, complete and submit the attached Request for Review form to:

• Administrative Monetary Penalty – Reviews
  National Energy Board
  Centre 10, 517 – 10^th Avenue SW
  Calgary, Alberta
  T2R 0A8

For more information on reviews, please see the Administrative Monetary Penalties Process Guide available on the NEB's website.

Sincerely,

Robert Steedman

Designated Officer
Administrative Monetary Penalties

1-800-899-1265 or 403-292-4800

Date modified:

2022-08-05