Emergency Preparedness

Hazard areas define initial areas where Pembina focuses our response actions during an emergency. Pembina’s ECMP hazard identification and emergency preparedness planning considers potential hazards or identified risks that may be a result of operating activities or external events. As part of our ECMP, Pembina prepares and maintains detailed ERPs designed to support our response to hazards specific to our regional operations.

The ECMP hazard identification process involves assessing worst-case scenarios to determine an EPZ or hazard area. The hazard area is determined through regulatory/industry adopted references or mathematical modeling to identify potential consequences and hazard areas of impact for the purpose of emergency response planning.

Pembina is committed to responsible stewardship of the environment. In addition to spill response equipment locations that allow for an effective response, our equipment deployment strategies are also designed to consider how to best manage and expedite recovery of the spill and initiate remediation activities, following a release. Pembina’s response strategy to a liquid spill or a gas release would focus on mitigation actions to limit the size, duration, or extent of the hazard.

When remediation of an area is undertaken, Pembina works in conjunction with regulatory agencies to ensure that we meet regulatory requirements for soil, vegetation, water quality and wildlife. As part of this remediation process, reporting is made to regulatory agencies outlining progress and status, as required. 

As part of our ERP development and update activities, Pembina may contact residents and other stakeholders on an ongoing basis to:

• Gather current information to contact them in the event of an emergency and
• Share our Public Information Package, which provides emergency preparedness reference material for their local area.

Pembina contacts local authorities and government agencies on an ongoing basis to update contact information that may be required during an emergency. During this consultation, Pembina requests additional information regarding communication requirements, resources, and capacity to assist with a coordinated response. First Responders may be engaged directly or through the local authority or through Pembina's Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) education program.

Pembina’s ERPs are based on ICS. This standardized approach is part of our preparation for a safe and effective response to emergency events and allows for Pembina to participate in Unified Command, fostering a coordinated response effort with outside agencies. 

Pembina undertakes continuing education for the public and First Responders, adjacent to our operations, as part of our commitment to responding safely and effectively to an emergency incident.

Pembina's CAER program focuses on engagement with First Responders to increase awareness and facilitate education for responding to emergency events associated with petroleum products.

In addition, First Responder continuing education is provided through opportunities to participate in Pembina’s emergency response exercises. Pembina also engages with the public and First Responders through open houses and other public forums, allowing us to gather information for consideration in our emergency response planning.

Pembina ensures that its staff are trained on their roles, responsibilities and procedures, as identified in our ECMP. Pembina emergency exercises are conducted to train appropriate personnel, First Responders, government agencies and local authorities, First Nations, and Indigenous groups are invited to observe or participate. Our training and exercise activities are tailored to the roles and responsibilities personnel could be expected to fill in an emergency and include:

• ICS Canada certified training
• Exercise scenarios based on our specific ERPs and identified hazards, allowing different aspects of the plans to be tested through the exercise program cycle. Pembina conducts a variety of exercises each year ranging from drills, tabletop, functional and full-scale sessions
• Participation in Western Canadian Spill Services (WCSS) exercises, as part of our membership in this spill co-operative

In the event of an incident, Pembina activates our ERP based on a standardized ICS. The ICS is a management system designed for an effective and efficient way of responding to an incident. Key components of incident command include:

• Consistent roles and responsibilities for responders inside and outside of Pembina
• Common terminology and processes for effective communication
• Defined Chain of Command for reporting
• Unified Command allowing for common objectives and decision making between jurisdictional authorities
• Organizational structure that is scalable to address the complexity of the response
• Procedures to coordinate response activities with the applicable regulator(s), local authorities, First Nations and Indigenous groups, First Responders, other government agencies, and support services, as required
• The establishment of Command Centres to support the coordination of response activities

Local response to an emergency is initiated by local Field Responders and may be supported by Pembina’s Regional Response Team(s) at the Incident Command Post. Pembina’s Incident Technical Response Team may provide technical, logistical, and public communications support or expertise. Additional support, when requested, can be provided through Pembina’s Emergency Coordination Centre and Pembina’s Crisis Management Team.