February 24, 2023
Sent via email Letter L-7-23
Verlon Otto
Director, Regulatory Affairs
Pacific Northern Gas Ltd.
Suite 750 – 888 Dunsmuir Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3K4
Re: Pacific Northern Gas Ltd. and Pacific Northern Gas (N.E.) Ltd. – Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) End-of-Use Deadline
Whether the utility has any equipment containing PCBs [Polychlorinated Biphenyls] with a concentration of 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) or more still in-use. If yes, please describe the equipment and the utility’s plans to meet the deadline.
On April 29, 2022, PNG provided a response to BCUC’s request for information regarding PNG’s plans to meet the end-of-use deadline for equipment containing PCBs. In its response, PNG noted it is developing a plan to meet the
December 31, 2025 deadline.
The BCUC requests PNG file its plan to meet the PCB end of use deadline with the BCUC by Monday, May 1, 2023. The plan should include the following:
• Sampling method used to identify concentrations of PCBs in equipment and whether this method is a provincially, nationally or internationally recognized PCB sampling method, as permitted under PCB regulations,
• Planned date(s) of completion for sampling and analysis of all PNG’s assets, and
• Approximate timelines to replace in-service assets containing PCB concentrations of 50 mg/kg (50 ppm) or more.
BCUC requests PNG to file status updates on Monday, April 1, 2024, and on Monday, March 31, 2025, to inform the BCUC of PNG’s progress on its plan to sample, identify, and phase-out its PCB-containing assets, based on timelines previously established in the filed plan. As part of the status updates, please provide the total number of units with PCB content in excess of 50 ppm under each asset type (i.e transformers, capacitors, ballasts) and any updates to the previous plan, with regards to timelines for sampling and replacement of these units.
Sincerely,
Original signed by:
Sara Hardgrave
Acting Commission Secretary
ED/kk
cc: gdoyle@png.ca; regulatory@png.ca;