environment
managing environmental risk
Environmentally sensitive lands and biodiversity – TELUS has a number of facilities across Canada including data centres, central offices, radio and wireless towers, manholes, copper and fibre-optic cables. In addition we have numerous lines, placed either aerially, below ground or under water. Through our policies and training, we aim to reduce the environmental impact on water, soil, vegetation and habitat associated with service installation or maintenance.
Our environment team led one class-screening assessment and supported two environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in 2005. We also completed one construction site assessment, as well as a portion of the reclamation of an area of grassland damaged in 2004. The number of impact assessments was reduced (from 27 total impact assessments in 2004) due to a shortened field season resulting from the labour disruption.
Work was substantially completed on the North Island fibre ring EIA, a multi-year initiative which was reported on in our 2004 report. The assessment in 2003 noted a First Nations site that required extensive archaeological migration work in order to install the cable. The subsequent detailed archaeological assessment work completed in 2005 confirmed that this is one of the oldest known sites on the B.C. coast (dating back about 7,600 years) and represents a significant contribution to the history of indigenous peoples in the province.
Fuel systems – We use diesel, propane and/or kerosene fuel for generators to provide the sole source of power at remote locations and as back-up for commercial power at critical business locations. We had 250 locations with tanks more than 2,500 litres in size at the start of our upgrade program in 2002. At the end of 2005, 72 of these locations had been fully upgraded, leaving 178 locations to be upgraded by the end of 2009. We reduce risk to the environment with measures such as reducing quantities of stored fuel, installing secondary containment, corrosion protection, continuous monitoring alarms, emergency shut-off devices and reduced back-up power requirements. The labour disruption in 2005 affected the number of sites that could be upgraded. A total of $1.5 million was spent on fuel system upgrades and removals in 2005.
Ozone depleting substances – Halon, a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and an ozone depleting substance (ODS), has been a key component of our fire protection strategy since the mid-1970s. In 1993, we introduced a plan in B.C. to remove Halon from our sites, in alignment with the Montreal Protocol, which includes a provision to monitor and reduce the use of Halon around the world. We did not effect a significant reduction in our Halon inventory in 2005, removing less than 200 kilograms. A further 545 kilograms were disconnected and await removal in 2006. The Halon-reduction program was interrupted by the labour disruption and by delays in a seismic and fire system upgrade at a key Vancouver location, though we expect to meet our target in 2006. As noted in our spills and releases section, we also track the loss of R-22, another ozone depleting CFC used as a refrigerant in many of our cooling systems. ODS contribution to global warming is included in the air emissions section of this report.
Utility poles – Treated wood poles have the potential to cause local soil contamination in the immediate vicinity of the poles or at locations where the poles are stored. Wood utility poles may be treated with pentachlorophenol, creosote or chromated copper arsenate (CCA) to prolong service life. We own or have joint-use agreements for about 1.5 million poles in Alberta, B.C. and Quebec, and we had 53 pole storage locations across Canada at the start of 2005, most of which are in B.C. In B.C., our goal is to reduce the risk posed by pole storage. In 2005, we eliminated four pole storage locations through remediation and removed one other from service (remediation is pending). This represents a risk reduction of nine per cent, close to our goal of a 10 per cent reduction. We will strive to achieve a further 10 per cent reduction in 2006. By year end, all pole yards in Quebec had been remediated and removed from service, and all poles sourced jointly from Hydro Québec.
Historically, wood poles were released to the public for use. We discontinued this practice in 2002. Through an external company in B.C., we recycle utility poles, which are manufactured into lumber, fence panels and Adirondack wooden chairs. The employees of this external company are trained to handle and process hazardous wood products so products no longer pose an environmental threat.
Remediation of contaminated sites – Despite policies and training, spills or releases occur from time to time, contaminating the soil and groundwater at our sites. Our properties can also be contaminated by third parties. Based on a risk matrix, TELUS allocates funds to clean up these sites as appropriate. Remediation techniques vary with the extent of the contaminated area, and the degree and type of contamination. Large or complex remediation, or remediation of properties being offered for sale, is performed by independent third-party consultants. Our own environmental advisors monitor all sites and address those with low levels of contamination.
For the most part, contamination at our sites consists of petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, pole preservatives or other chemicals. In 2005 we had 104 sites where known contamination was identified or suspected. Seven of these were completed in 2005. Completed sites include sites where the contaminants have been physically removed from the site soil, air and ground-water, as well as sites that have been risk-assessed to confirm that there are no unacceptable levels of contaminants present (as determined by comparison to either generic or site-specific risk-based criteria). Active sites include those that are being monitored, assessed or remediated. The extended labour disruption limited the amount of site assessment and remediation activity the company completed in 2005.