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.
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 EAO web site at www.eao.gov.bc.ca .
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:
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.
All submissions received by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office during the comment period in relation to the proposed Project will be considered public. All submissions will be posted to the Agency’s website and to the EAO website.
