Site C Clean Energy Project - Public Comment Period and Open House Sessions

OTTAWA, April 10, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) announced today that the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines for the proposed Site C Clean Energy Project are being issued for public comment. The public is also invited to attend Open House Sessions to be held in the project area in May 2012.

Public Comment Period
The Agency and the EAO are holding a 45-day public comment period on the draft EIS Guidelines for the environmental assessment.  The Guidelines provide direction to the proponent and identify the information that is required in the EIS.  The EIS will provide a detailed analysis of the potential environmental, economic, social, health and heritage effects of the proposed project. All comments received will be considered by both agencies. Once finalized, the EIS Guidelines will be made public and provided to the proponent.

Written comments will be accepted as of April 17, 2012 and must be received by    June 1, 2012.  All comments will be considered public and will be posted on the Agency online public registry and on the EAO website.  Forward written comments in the official language of your choice to either of the following:

To view the draft EIS Guidelines or to obtain more information on this project, consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca , reference number 11-05-63919 or the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office web site at www.eao.gov.bc.ca .

Public Open House Sessions
The Agency and the EAO will be holding open house sessions during the public comment period. The objective of the sessions is to provide information on the EIS Guidelines and to inform the public of the environmental assessment process and how the public can participate.  The public will also have an opportunity to submit written comments on the Guidelines at the sessions. Representatives of both agencies will be available to answer questions. The proponent, BC Hydro, will also attend the sessions to answer technical questions about the project. The open house sessions will be held in the following communities near the project area:

Date /Time	Location
Tuesday May 1, 2012 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.	North Peace Cultural Centre 10015 - 100th Ave. Fort St. John, BC
Wednesday May 2, 2012 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Hudson's Hope Community Hall 10310 - 100th St, Hudson's Hope, BC
Thursday May 3,  2012 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Pomeroy Inn & Suites 5200 North Access Road Chetwynd, BC
Tuesday May 8, 2012 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Sawridge Inn & Conference Centre 9510-100th Street Peace River, AB
Wednesday May 9, 2012 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Best Western Dawson Creek 500 Highway #2 Dawson Creek, BC
Thursday May 10, 2012 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.	Prince George Ramada 444 George Street Prince George, BC

Background
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 Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects in support of sustainable development.

The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office manages the provincial environmental assessment process, which examines major projects for potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects that may occur during the lifecycle of a project and identifies strategies to prevent or reduce potential adverse effects.

Media may contact:

Lucille Jamault
Communications Manager
Canadian Environmental
Assessment Agency
Tel.: [phone]

Suntanu Dalal
Communications Officer
British Columbia Environmental
Assessment Office
Tel.: [phone]