Punch & Bore Crossings

For the purpose of this Operational Statement, the term punch and bore refers to a trenchless crossing method which involves the excavation of a vertical bell hole or shallow depression on either side of the watercourse. Horizontal punching or boring between the two points, at an appropriate depth below the watercourse, completes the creation of a passage-way for the crossing. Punch and bore crossings allow cables and pipelines to be installed under watercourses without imparting any disturbance to the bed and banks. Punch and bore crossings differ from high-pressure directional drilled crossings, in that no pressurized mud systems are required, thereby avoiding the risk of sediment release due to frac-out.

Punch and bore crossings can negatively impact fish and fish habitat due to erosion and sedimentation from site disturbance and dewatering of bell holes or the collapse of the punch or bore hole under the stream. Disturbing riparian vegetation can reduce important shoreline cover, shade and food production areas. Machinery fording the stream can disturb bottom and bank substrates, disrupt sensitive fish life stages, and introduce deleterious substances if equipment is not properly maintained. Impacts can be reduced if an emergency response plan and clean-up materials are in place.

The general order of preference for carrying out a cable or pipeline stream crossing in order to protect fish and fish habitat is: a) a punch or bore crossing, b) high-pressure directional drill crossing (see High-Pressure Directional Drilling Operational Statement), c) dry open-cut crossing, and d) isolated open-cut crossing (see Isolated or Dry Open-cut Stream Crossings Operational Statement). This order must be balanced with practical considerations at the site.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is responsible for protecting fish and fish habitat across Canada. Under the Fisheries Act no one may carry out a work or undertaking that will cause the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction (HADD) of fish habitat unless it has been authorized by DFO. By following the conditions and measures set out below you will be in compliance with subsection 35(1) of the Fisheries Act.

The purpose of this Operational Statement is to describe the conditions under which it is applicable to your project and the measures to be incorporated into your project in order to avoid negative impacts to fish habitat. You may proceed with your punch or bore crossing project without a DFO review when you meet the following conditions:

• the project is not located on a Class A stream according to the Alberta Water Act – Code of Practice,
• the crossing is not a wet open-cut crossing,
• the crossing technique will not damage the aquatic environment and thereby negatively impact fish or fish habitat,
• the site does not occur at a stream location involving known fish spawning habitat, particularly if it is dependent on groundwater upwelling, and
• you incorporate the Measures to Protect Fish and Fish Habitat when Conducting Punch and Bore Crossings, listed below.

If you cannot meet all of the conditions listed above and cannot incorporate all of the measures listed below then your project may result in a violation of subsection 35(1) of the Fisheries Act and you could be subject to enforcement action. In this case, you should contact the DFO office in your area if you wish to obtain DFO’s opinion on the possible options you should consider to avoid contravention of the Fisheries Act.

You are required to respect all municipal, provincial or federal legislation that applies to the work being carried out in relation to this Operational Statement. The activities undertaken in this Operational Statement must also comply with the Species at Risk Act (www.sararegistry.gc.ca). If you have questions regarding this Operational Statement, please contact the DFO office in your area (see Alberta DFO office list).

We ask that you notify DFO, preferably 14 days before starting your work by filling out and sending the Alberta Operational Statement notification form (http://www.dfo
-mpo.ca/regions/central/habitat/os-eo/provinces-territories-territoires/ab/os-eo20-eng.htm) to the DFO office in your area. This information is requested in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the work carried out in relation to this Operational Statement.

Measures to Protect Fish and Fish Habitat when Conducting Punch and Bore Crossings

1. A punch or bore crossing can be conducted at any time of the year provided there is not a high risk of failure and it does not require in-water activities such as machinery fording.
2. Design the punch or bore path for an appropriate depth below the watercourse to prevent the pipeline or cable from becoming exposed due to natural scouring of the stream bed.
3. While this Operational Statement does not cover the clearing of riparian vegetation, the removal of select plants may be necessary to access the construction site and to excavate the bell holes. This removal is to be kept to a minimum and within the utility right-of-way or approved work space.
4. Install effective sediment and erosion control measures before starting work to prevent entry of sediment into the water body. Inspect them regularly during the course of construction and make all necessary repairs if any damage occurs.
5. Machinery fording the watercourse to bring equipment required for construction to the opposite side is limited to a one-time event (over and back) and should occur only if an existing crossing at another location is not available or practical to use. A Temporary Stream Crossing Operational Statement is also available.
   • 5.1. If minor rutting is likely to occur, stream bank and bed protection methods (e.g., swamp mats, pads) should be used provided they do not constrict flows or block fish passage.
   • 5.2. Grading of the stream banks for the approaches should not occur.
   • 5.3. If the stream bed and banks are steep and highly erodible (e.g., dominated by organic materials and silts) and erosion and degradation are likely to occur as a result of equipment fording, then a temporary crossing structure or other practice should be used to protect these areas.
   • 5.4. Time the one-time fording to prevent disruption to sensitive fish life stages by adhering to appropriate fisheries timing windows (see Alberta Water Act -
     Code of Practice restricted activity periods, which can be found at: http://environment.alberta.ca/1411.html).
   • 5.5. Fording should occur under low flow conditions and not when flows are elevated due to local rain events or seasonal flooding.
6. Operate machinery on land above the ordinary high water mark (HWM) (see definition below) and in a manner that minimizes disturbance to the banks of the watercourse.
   • 6.1. Machinery is to arrive on-site in a clean condition and is to be maintained free of fluid leaks.
   • 6.2. Wash, refuel and service machinery and store fuel and other materials for the machinery away from the water to prevent any deleterious substance from entering the water.
   • 6.3. Keep an emergency spill kit on site in case of fluid leaks or spills from machinery.
7. Excavate bell holes beyond the HWM, far enough away from any watercourse to allow containment of any sediment or deleterious substances above the HWM.
   • 7.1. When dewatering bell holes, remove suspended solids by diverting water into a vegetated area or settling basin, and prevent sediment and other deleterious substances from entering the watercourse.
   • 7.2. Stabilize any waste materials removed from the work site (including bell holes) to prevent them from entering the watercourse. This could include covering spoil piles with biodegradable mats or tarps or planting them with grass or shrubs.
   • 7.3. After suitably backfilling and packing the bell holes, vegetate any disturbed areas (see Measure 11).
8. Monitor the watercourse to observe signs of malfunction during all phases of the work.
9. For the duration of the work, keep on-site and readily accessible, all material and equipment needed to contain and clean-up releases of sediment-laden water and other deleterious substances.
10. Develop a response plan that is to be implemented immediately in the event of a sediment release or spill of a deleterious substance. This plan is to include measures to: a) stop work, contain sediment-laden water and other deleterious substances and prevent their further migration into the watercourse; b) notify all applicable authorities in the area, including the Alberta Environment Hotline at 1-800-222-6514, and the closest DFO office; c) promptly clean-up and appropriately dispose of the sediment-laden water and deleterious substances; and d) ensure clean-up measures are suitably applied so as not to result in further alteration of the bed and/or banks of the watercourse.
11. Vegetate any disturbed areas by planting and seeding preferably with native trees, shrubs or grasses and cover such areas with mulch to prevent erosion and to help seeds germinate. If there is insufficient time remaining in the growing season, the site should be stabilized (e.g., cover exposed areas with erosion control blankets to keep the soil in place and prevent erosion) and vegetated the following spring.
    • 11.1. Maintain effective sediment and erosion control measures until re-vegetation of disturbed areas is achieved.

Definition:

Ordinary high water mark (HWM) – The usual or average level to which a body of water rises at its highest point and remains for sufficient time so as to change the characteristics of the land. In flowing waters (rivers, streams) this refers to the “active channel/bank-full level” which is often the 1:2 year flood flow return level. In inland lakes or wetlands, it refers to those parts of the water body bed and banks that are frequently flooded by water so as to leave a mark on the land and where the natural vegetation changes from predominately aquatic vegetation to terrestrial vegetation (excepting water tolerant species). For reservoirs this refers to normal high operating levels (Full Supply Level).

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