Stakeholder Engagement

Social and environmental factors are important when planning new pipelines. Interests continue to change, and that changes the way pipeline companies do business. Society needs to be able to monitor and measure a project and company performance throughout the pipeline’s life cycle. A “social licence” to operate is earned by acquiring informed consent from stakeholders and local communities.

Stakeholder engagement encompasses a wide variety of methods that can be used to avoid misunderstandings or disagreements with stakeholders. Pipeline construction and operation often require access to land owned, occupied and used by others. Given this, it is natural for these stakeholders to not only want information regarding the project, but also a say in how the project proceeds. Community engagement conducted in a two-way, cooperative and constructive manner can result in the pipeline company’s social licence to operate.

Consultation

Stakeholders have an expectation and a right to know how pipeline construction and operation can potentially impact them. Often times, a lack of information about a project will breed an atmosphere of distrust.

When engaging any community, pipeline operators are committed to creating and maintaining two-way communications not only to keep the stakeholders informed about the project and to keep the operator aware of community issues and concerns, but also to resolve any issues that might arise between the community and the operator. By inviting the community to be a part of the process, both the community and the operator will achieve maximum benefit from the project.The basic steps in designing and implementing a consultation program include

  • Phase 1: Identification of stakeholders and stakeholder issues
  • Phase 2: Development of consultation strategy (goals/objectives) and plan (tactics/schedule)
  • Phase 3: Implementation of the plan (including tracking, integrating input into project plans, integration between land, environment, and consultation efforts, etc,)
  • Phase 4: Consultation reporting/evaluation


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Information Gathering and Dissemination

Stakeholder engagement may take many forms. Depending on the scope and scale of the proposed project, the potential impacts of the project, and the interest, concern and expectations of stakeholders, various consultation tools and tactics may be used. Some tools such as the development of project websites, advertising and the distribution of project literature enable project proponents to share information about a proposed project with stakeholders. Other tactics such as one-on-one meetings with landowners, special interest groups, and community leaders, enable two-way dialogue and information sharing. Still other venues, such as town hall meetings or project open houses, provide opportunities for stakeholders to learn about many aspects of a proposed project and discuss issues with project engineers, environmental and consultation staff, and others like operations and maintenance staff. Regardless of the tools and tactics implemented, the goal of the stakeholder engagement program is to enable interested and impacted stakeholders to provide input to project proponents and have any issues or concerns addressed.


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