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NTPC Acknowledges National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Thank you to everyone who attended this morning's All NTPC Teams meeting to acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day. Special thanks to Inuvik-based Onida Banksland, who shared a touching and emotional story about her father, and Grant Sullivan fron Nihtat Energy Ltd., who spoke about the important links that have developed between his organization and NTPC.

Please take a moment or two during the statutory holiday on September 30 to listen to Indigenous voices and amplify their stories where possible.

 

Thermal Training Block

On September 19th to the 23rd Casual and Full-time Plant Superintendents from the Thermal Region gathered in Yellowknife to participate in Health, Safety and Environmental training. The HSE Department would like to thank all participants for showing up to the training sessions on time, prepared and ready to learn. As well as a big thanks to all those who assisted with making the weeklong training block a success! 

Third LNG Tank Installed in Inuvik

On September 14, a third liquified natural gas (LNG) tank was installed in Inuvik. The increased LNG storage capacity will help offset diesel consumption and replace it with lower cost, lower greenhouse gas emitting LNG.

Lots of activity in Inuvik these days! In addition to the third LNG tank, testing was completed on the substation ground grid, the utilidor (owned by the Town of Inuvik but located in the Inuvik yard) is being reconstructed, and later this week a new transformer will be installed in the substation to accommodate the added generation from Inuvik High Point Wind.

 

 

Stakeholder Consultation Key to Environmental Permitting

For all NTPC Projects with environmental impacts, there is a regulatory requirement to acquire permits. For example, the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (ie. the water boards) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) administer permits such as Water Licenses, Land-use Permits, and Fisheries Act Authorizations to authorize, govern, and monitor environmental impacts. 

One key requirement for many of these permits is consultation with Indigenous Governments (IGs) and Stakeholders to share information about the project, address questions and concerns about, in the best case, garner support for the initiative or activity. 

HSE has been actively engaging IGs and Stakeholders throughout the year on a number of permit applications. In 2022-23 engagement has focused on: 

  • Extended overhaul shutdown at Taltson;  

  • L150 Anchor Assessment; 

  • Taltson Winter Road Amendment; and 

  • Walleye spawning study. 

There have been eight consultation meetings conducted in 2022 with Salt River First Nations, the Fort Smith Metis Council, the Northwest Territories Metis Nation and the Fort Resolution Metis Council. These meetings are an excellent way to engage with various groups and listen to environmental concerns in an operational context and also to incorporate traditional knowledge into project planning. We also learn the ways NTPC can support, inform, and participate in gathering information about ways we can offset operational impacts. 

In 2022, consultation meetings have concluded positively with both NTPC and the groups consulted learning more about each other and the operational context for various planned activities.  

Line Crew Tackles Damaged Transmission Line in Challenging Conditions

Fire SS0069, which threatened the Taltson Hydroelectric Facility in August, flared up last week and again caused concern for workers and assets at Taltson. Although safety and evacuation plans were reviewed by all onsite, the fire did not become an immediate risk and no evacuation was required. Monitoring of conditions will continue until the fire is fully extinguished.

The fire caused additional damage to Transmission Line 150 and line workers were required to inspect and repair parts of the infrastructure. Among those who were directly involved ion the ground were: Employees Trevor Wetmore, Riley Brodhagen and Scott Belanger along with two contract PLTs responded in very challenging conditions. Robert Gerhardt provided PLT support from Taltson, where he was already working on a project. Thank you to all who were involved in responding to a potentially dangerous situation and helping to protect and repair our assets.​

A series of photos taken on scene are attached to this news story..