Our Approach

Our environmental strategy remains focused on meeting or exceeding compliance requirements with applicable laws and regulations. We also analyze and adopt best practices for managing operational and environmental risks.

Over the past two years, we revised our EHS policy to hold all contractors and suppliers accountable for understanding and meeting applicable EHS requirements. We also implemented a standardized platform for recording and tracking environmental, health and safety (EHS) data.

Building on the foundation established by our EHS management system, we moved forward in 2009 with a new Operations Performance Assurance Framework (OPA). When fully implemented in 2011, OPA will provide a single framework for all operational functions across Spectra Energy. It provides a systematic approach to continuous environmental risk reduction and performance improvement. OPA meets substantive requirements, and in many instances is broader than ISO 14001.

In 2009, we committed to evaluate the feasibility of adopting quantitative goals for reducing total GHG emissions. We determined that our three businesses were on track to keep reducing and avoiding GHG emissions using programs that already exist, and that a Spectra Energy-wide quantitative goal was not practical in driving further reductions at the business unit level. The scope of these programs extends from our operations to our customers’ energy use. Key performance indicators are tailored for each program:

• Western Canada Transmission and Processing is in full compliance with Alberta, Canada’s provincial 12 percent emissions intensity reduction target. This business unit also reports the avoidance of GHG emissions from seven carbon capture and storage facilities.
• Union Gas has two types of energy reduction targets: one for customer energy conservation and another for internal energy efficiency improvement.
• U.S. Transmission remains committed to avoid/reduce methane emissions through participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Natural Gas STAR Program.

We are evaluating methods to improve how we factor the cost of carbon into our engineering and construction design processes. We will also continue external reporting of progress in these areas in our online and print sustainability reports and in the Carbon Disclosure Project.

In 2008 and 2009, values of our environmental performance indicators varied, reflecting the addition of new facilities, expansion of other facilities, fluctuation of throughput rates, and improved data quality. Therefore, we are continuing to work toward establishing more accurate and effective measurement benchmarks. In 2010, we examined the use of additional metrics such as emissions intensity to create a more complete picture of our accomplishments and areas for improvement.