Untitled

- 10 2 -
10 .2 . Relating to Pipeline Construction
a .
During pipeline and highway construction, extra care should
be taken in the area north of Wrigley on the east side of Roche-qui-
Trempe-a-l'Eau and Gaudet Mountains . This area is dominated by peat
land whose soils hâve a very high ice content interspersed with layers
of pure ice as, for example, site T29 .
b .
It was found that soil temperatures of collapse scars and small
unfrozen bodies surrounded by frozen peatland are much lower than those
of large unfrozen peatlands . A cool (below 0 °C) gas pipeline will
affect these bodies because of their small size and low soil temperature .
Probably freezing of
these bodies would occur first with subsequent
vaulting due to ice lens formation . Attention should be given to ovércoming
this serious problem, which could lead to pipeline rupture .
c . The Mackenzie River area, like other parts .of the boreal
region, is dominated by organic soils . Studies should be initiated
to determine the effect of oil spills on different types of peat
lands . Included in this study should be the effect of oil spills
on the thermal regime, on physical and chemical properties of organic
soils and water associated with peatlands and on vegetation or other
biological systems .
d . Most of the test sites relating to pipeline construction
are located on either mineral terrain or mineral terrain with thin
peat cover . Some of these tests should be carried out on the various
types of peatland since they constitute a high percentage of the land
types along the corridor .