Government of Canada's Decision on the Environmental Assessment of the Site C Clean Energy Project

BC Hydro must fulfil over 80 legally binding conditions throughout the life of the project.

OTTAWA, Oct. 14, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, today issued the following statement outlining the Governor in Council's determination that the environmental effects of the proposed Site C Clean Energy Project are justified in the circumstances.

"The Site C project, which has been proposed by BC Hydro and Power Authority, underwent a thorough independent federal-provincial review by an independent panel. This process included extensive, meaningful and respectful consultations with the public and Aboriginal groups. The environmental assessment process provided the scientific and technical expertise and the effective engagement of the public and Aboriginal groups to enable an informed decision by both governments."

"The proposed Site C project is an important one for British Columbia and for Canada as it will support jobs and economic growth while providing clean, renewable energy over the next 100 years.  The Site C Clean Energy Project will translate into about 10,000 direct person-years of employment from now until 2024 and when indirect and induced jobs are added in, that figure climbs to 29,000 person-years of employment."

"This decision will benefit future generations. Over the life of the project, Site C is expected to help mitigate the growth in greenhouse gas emissions in Canada by preventing the discharge of between 34 to 76 megatonnes of  CO₂ equivalent."

"In the Decision Statement that I released today, there are over 80 legally binding conditions that must be fulfilled by the proponent, BC Hydro, throughout the life of the project in compliance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. Failure to meet these conditions is a violation of federal law."

"Our Government is committed to making environmental assessment decisions based on the best available scientific evidence, and balancing economic and environmental considerations."

The next steps for this project are for the proponent to determine whether it will proceed. If the determination is to proceed, the proponent will be required to seek out a variety of federal regulatory approvals from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Fisheries Act) and Transport Canada (Navigation Protection Act) and a variety of provincial regulatory approvals. These regulatory approvals will be required throughout various stages in the project

Associated Links

• The EA Decision Statement and a Backgrounder, as well as the Next Steps on the Site C Clean Energy Project and information on the environmental assessment of the project are available at ceaa.gc.ca
• Proposed Site C project (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Responsible Resource Development (Canada's Economic Action Plan)

Next Steps on the Site C Clean Energy Project

Office of the Minister of the Environment

BC Hydro is proposing to construct the Site C Clean Energy Project (Site C) on the Peace River near Fort St. John in northeastern British Columbia (B.C.). The project consists of an earthfill dam, reservoir and an 1100 megawatt (MW) generating station that would operate for more than 100 years, producing enough electricity for 450,000 homes.

The Site C project has undergone a thorough and rigorous review by an independent Joint Review Panel. The independent panel held public hearings in and around the relevant communities. This process included extensive, meaningful and respectful consultations with the public and Aboriginal groups and provided an opportunity for experts outside government to weigh in and to provide a variety of information and comments both for and against the project. The environmental assessment process, from start to finish, provided the scientific and technical expertise and the effective engagement of the public and Aboriginal groups to enable an informed decision by both governments.

Today, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, issued a decision statement under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) for the proposed Site C Clean Energy Project.

The Governor in Council has determined that environmental effects of the Site C project are justified in the circumstances therefore the Site C project may proceed in accordance with conditions set out in the Decision Statement.  The Minister's Decision Statement includes mitigation measures and follow-up program requirements that must be implemented by the proponent, BC Hydro, throughout the life of the project.

Under the compliance and enforcement measures of CEAA 2012, proponents of projects that are granted approval to proceed are legally obligated to comply with conditions set out in the Decision Statement.

Before the project will proceed, the proponent must make a determination whether or not to proceed. If the determination is to proceed, the proponent will be required to seek out a variety of federal regulatory approvals from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (Fisheries Act) and Transport Canada (Navigation Protection Act) and a variety of provincial regulatory approvals. These regulatory approvals will be required throughout various stages in the project.

Associated Links

• The EA Decision Statement and a Backgrounder, as well as the Ministerial Statement and information on the environmental assessment of the project are available at ceaa.gc.ca
• Proposed Site C project (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Responsible Resource Development (Canada's Economic Action Plan)

 

Backgrounder

PROPOSED SITE C CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT

The Project
BC Hydro and Power Authority proposes to construct and operate a dam and 1,100-megawatt hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeastern B.C. The proposed project would be the third in a series of dams on the B.C. portion of the Peace River. The project components are an earthfill dam 1,050 metres long and 60 metres high, an 1,100-megawatt generating station and associated structures, an 83-km long reservoir, realignment of four sections of Highway 29 and two 77-km transmission lines along an existing transmission line right-of-way connecting Site C to the existing provincial power grid.

The Review Process
The Review Panel, made up of Harry Swain (Panel Chair), Jocelyne Beaudet and James Mattison (Members), was appointed in August 2013 by the federal and provincial environment ministers to conduct an environmental assessment of the Site C project.  In addition to receiving written submissions, the Panel held a public hearing from December 9, 2013 to January 23, 2014, in the project area. The environmental assessment process provided the proponent, the public, Aboriginal groups, and governments, an opportunity to present their views to the Panel on the project and its potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects. The Panel submitted its report containing its rationale, conclusions and recommendations to both governments on May 1, 2014.

EA Decision Statement Conditions
The Decision Statement issued by the Minister sets out over 80 specific conditions with which the proponent BC Hydro must comply. The conditions address a number of environmental effects including impacts of fish and fish habitat, migratory birds, species at risk, water quality, and the health and current use of the land for traditional purposes by Aboriginal peoples.

Aboriginal Consultations
The Government of Canada has actively consulted with potentially affected Aboriginal groups regarding the proposed Site C project throughout the environmental assessment process.

The Government of Canada takes a "Whole of Government" approach to Aboriginal consultation in the context of environmental assessments to ensure that Aboriginal groups are adequately consulted when the Crown contemplates actions that may adversely impact potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights.  Aboriginal consultation activities are integrated into the environmental assessment process to the greatest extent possible.

More information, including environmental assessment documents for the Site C project, is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at ceaa.gc.ca

SOURCE: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Ted Laking, Office of the Minister of the Environment, Tel.: [phone]; Lucille Jamault, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Tel. : [phone], [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.ceaa.gc.ca