Network Installations

Our telecommunications network comprises approximately 1.5 million poles, 65,000 manholes, 750 transmission towers and 160 million kilometres of cable and wire that are either underground, buried, underwater or aerial. Because our network extends over a vast territory that crosses many interconnected ecosystems our activities may unavoidably impact people (e.g. visual and noise) and the environment (e.g. water, air, soil, flora and fauna). Special care is taken when those activities involve sensitive natural areas.

Our objective is to minimize the impact of our infrastructure on nature and people during network planning, construction, maintenance and dismantling activities. We have the following programs in place:

PROTECTING OUR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Impact Assessments

As required, we conduct environmental impact studies to minimize any potential impact on wildlife habitats and flora, and to obtain regulatory approvals for our continued work. Impact assessments are conducted for network development projects in environmentally sensitive areas, including federal lands, provincial and national parks and native reserves.

Environmental reviews of network projects are also conducted on a sample of network projects to evaluate compliance with Bell's network development environmental principles and procedures.

Environmental Evaluation training

We have built a strong reputation as an environmentally responsible corporate citizen. To minimize our environmental impact, we initiated an Internal Environment Evaluation (IEE) program in 1994 that integrates environmental evaluations into current practices and operating procedures.

A key component of the program is the training of employees and contractors on important environmental requirements. An environmental training guide and procedures outline the preventive and mitigation measures for network development, construction and removal.

INTEGRATING WITH OUR SURROUNDINGS

We pursued initiatives aimed at improving the streetscapes in our communities. As part of this activity, various groups within Bell have helped develop and install outside plant equipment that minimizes the visual impact of our network infrastructure. These types of initiatives have helped build positive relationships with customers, developers, and municipalities.

Poles

Our objectives are to optimize the number of pole storage yards necessary for our operations, avoid the use of treated wood poles in environmentally sensitive areas and minimize the number of poles sent to landfill.

Our proactive initiatives include:

• developing and implementing best management practices with key stakeholders in the Government of Canada's Strategic Option Process (SOP) for the Wood Preservation Sector. The initiative is aimed at using best management practices for the safe storage, use and disposal of treated wood in Canada
• conducting research to evaluate the impact of using treated wood poles
• managing a product stewardship agreement with our pole supplier that imposes strict requirements for the treatment and recovery of poles at the end of their useful life
• using non-treated cedar poles in environmentally sensitive areas, such as near watercourses or groundwater wells
• complying with site selection criteria for the installation of treated wood poles
• assessing resin poles for their long term viability in the network. Currently used on a limited basis at Northwestel, the use of resin poles is not being considered elsewhere in Bell territory because they would limit our ability to enter into joint usage arrangements with electric utilities.

In 2005, we reduced the total number of in-use pole storage yards from 44 in 2004 to 40, and upgraded three of them to meet SOP Guidelines for Wood Storage Facilities. We could not upgrade a fourth storage yard as planned due to budget constraints.

See our pole recovery program under Residual Materials.