Site C Hydroelectric Project

Synopsis

Site C is a proposed $7.9 bn (2011) dam, reservoir, and 1100 MW/5100 GWh powerhouse on the Peace River. The 83 km reservoir will flood 5,340 ha of land. Concerns: impacts to air, water, and land; loss of farmland, fish & wildlife habitat. In 2010, the BC government announced the project would proceed to operation by 2020, and the Clean Energy Act excluded it from review by the BC Utilities Commission. Environmental assessment will be a joint federal-provincial panel review.

Category Energy

Type Big Hydro

Prov BC

Region Northeast

Posted 10Sep09

Updated 04Apr13

Status Proposed

Site C on the Peace River, Maggie Paquet, Jan/Feb 2009

Contacts

LOCAL
COMMUNITY

Gwen Johansson, 250-783-5314, gjohan(at)pris.ca

North Peace Rod and Gun Club, nprg.ca, CT Worth, President, 250-263-0868, 250-785-9686

Peace River Environmental Society, peaceriverenvironmentalsociety.org, Wanda Laurin, 780-624-2751, wanda(at)peaceriverenvironmentalsociety.org

Peace Valley Environment Association, www.peacevalley.ca, Brian Churchill, 250-785-6417, 250-261-0555, Ken Forest, 250-785-3094, Sandra Hoffmann, 250-787-1749, 250-263-1074

It's Our Valley, www.itsourvalley.ca

PROVINCIAL
REGIONAL

British Columbia Women's Institute

Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development, www.pembina.org, Matt Horne, 604-874-8558,

Wilderness Committee - Stop the Site C Dam, Tria Donaldson, tria(at)wildernesscommittee.org, 250-388-9292

Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, www.y2y.net, George Smith, 604-886-3136, georgesmith(at)dccnet.com

GOVERNMENT
AGENCIES

Both governments have agreed that the environmental assessment for Site C will be conducted by a joint federal-provincial review panel. A joint agreement between BC and Ottawa was posted on Feb 13, 2012

Site C Clean Energy Project at the BC EAO, BC Environmental Assessment Office, Brian Murphy, Project Assessment Director, 250-387-2402, Brian.Murphy@gov.bc.ca

Site C Clean Energy Project at CEAA, Ref: 11-05-63919, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Linda Jones, Project Manager, 866-582-1884, Linda.Jones(at)ceea-acee.gc.ca, sitecreview(at)ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Site C at the MPMO, Major Project Management Office, Tim Archer, 613-995-7545, tim.archer(at)nrcan.gc.ca

ABORIGINAL
GROUPS

Treaty 8 Tribal Association, www.treaty8.bc.ca,
- Liz Logan, 250-321-1296, llogan(at)treaty8.bc.ca
- Jeff Richert, Environmental Assessment Co-ordinator, 250-785-0612, jrichert(at)treaty8.bc.ca

The Treaty 8 Tribal Association represents a number of bands concerned about Site C. But at least 22 Aboriginal Groups in northeast BC are concerned about the projectand have applied for and been awarded funding to participate in the environmental assessment (see list below).

PROPONENT

BC Hydro's Site C web pages, www.bchydro.com

References

The Living Peace River Valley An overview of the Peace River Valley's natural and cultural values

News release, Office of the Premier, April 19, 2010 (advancing Site C to an environmental assessment)

More information

Location

A 60 day public comment period on the Environmental Impact Statement opened on February 3, 2013 and closes on April 4, 2013.

http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=85343

Site C essential for LNG development: Clark

"[Premier Christy] Clark explained that the newly approved licence for Shell to export liquefied natural gas out of Kitimat will use 100 per cent of the power Site C would create."

Participant Funding

$140,000 in Participant Funding was announced by CEAA for the Site C project review. $141,615 was awarded in December 2011 to eight applicants:

• $19,000 to North Peace Rod and Gun Club;
• $19,000 to Peace Valley Environmental Association;
• $19,000 to British Columbia Women's Institute;
• $9,940 to Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development;
• $19,000 to Peace River Environmental Society
• $19,000 to Gwen Johansson;
• $19,000 to Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative; and
• $17,675 to Kelly Lake Cree Nation.

Link to Funding Review Committee's Report

$1,009,400 in Participant Funding was announced by CEAA for the Site C Aboriginal Funding Envelope. $517,795 was awarded in December 2011 to 22 applicants:

• $17,800 to Métis Nation BC;
• $16,800 to Deninu Kue First Nation;
• $32,000 to Saulteau First Nations;
• $5,675 to Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement;
• $17,800 to Fort Nelson First Nation;
• $17,800 to Smith’s Landing First Nation;
• $32,000 to Doig River First Nation, represented by Treaty 8 Tribal Association;
• $32,000 to Halfway River First Nation, represented by Treaty 8 Tribal Association;
• $32,000 to Prophet River First Nation, represented by Treaty 8 Tribal Association;
• $32,000 to West Moberly First Nation, represented by Treaty 8 Tribal Association;
• $24,800 to Dene Tha’ First Nation;
• $24,800 to Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation Industry Relation Corporation;
• $24,800 to Mikisew Cree First Nation;
• $32,000 to McLeod Lake Indian Band;
• $24,800 to Beaver First Nation;
• $17,800 to Kwadacha Nation;
• $24,800 to Zone 6 Regional Council of the Métis Association of Alberta;
• $16,620 to Northwest Territory Métis Nation;
• $14,000 to Swan River First Nation;
• $24,700 to Horse Lake First Nation Industry Relations Corporation;
• $24,700 to Duncan’s First Nation;
• $28,100 to Blueberry River First Nation.

Link to Funding Review Committee's Report