Articles & Long Notices
General News · 22nd May 2009
norberto
Couple of recent press releases from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
News Release from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, May 13, 2009.
Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced today that the proposed Bute Inlet Hydroelectric Project located about 150 km north of Powell River in British Columbia will undergo an environmental assessment by a federal review panel. The Minister's decision of May 5, 2009, follows a request from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The federal terms of reference to establish the review panel and the federal-provincial guidelines for the preparation of the environmental impact statement are being issued. The documents were finalized following recent consultations with First Nations and the public.
The Panel’s terms of reference provide information on the scope of the environmental assessment, on the process for conducting the review, as well as further details on the timelines associated with the key steps of the panel review.
The federal-provincial guidelines provide direction to the proponent and identify the information that will be required in the environmental impact statement—the key document which will outline the details of the project, its anticipated effects on the environment and the proposed measures to reduce these environmental effects.
The federal environmental assessment process will be coordinated to the extent possible with the provincial process in order to minimize duplication and increase efficiency and effectiveness.
The Agency will make funding available to assist First Nations and the public to participate in the environmental assessment process. Availability of participant funding will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Panel’s terms of reference and the guidelines, along with more information on the project is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry Internet site at www.ceaaacee.gc.ca, reference number 09-03-44825.
News Release, CEAA, May 21, 2009
OTTAWA - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is making available $250,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to participate in the environmental review for the proposed Bute Inlet Hydroelectric project in British Columbia.
This funding is being made available to help successful applicants review and comment on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be prepared by the proponent. The funding may also be used to prepare for and participate in the public hearings that will be announced at a later date.
Funding applications received by the Agency by July 6, 2009 will be considered. A Funding Review Committee, independent of the review process, will consider all applications and make recommendations on the allocation of funds.
Information on the funding program, the proposed project and on the environmental assessment process is available on the Agency Web site, registry number 09-05-44825.
Bute Hydro Inc. is proposing to construct 17 run-of-river hydroelectric facilities in the vicinity of Bute Inlet. Major components in addition to the generating facilities include a substation near the mouth of Southgate River, associated access roads and ancillary works, 216 km of 230 kV collector transmission line and 227 km of 500 kV trunk transmission line from the proposed substation near the mouth of Southgate River to the existing 500 kV substation at Malaspina.
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.
- - - - - - - -
To learn all sort of details about the Bute Inlet and other run-of-river projects, please visit the following websites:
http://www.buteinlet.net/
http://www.hydrofactsbc.ca/
http://www.saveourrivers.ca/
http://www.klahoose.org/
http://www.hawkeyeenergy.com/energy/index.html
http://www.plutonic.ca/s/Home.asp
News Release from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, May 13, 2009.
Canada’s Environment Minister Jim Prentice announced today that the proposed Bute Inlet Hydroelectric Project located about 150 km north of Powell River in British Columbia will undergo an environmental assessment by a federal review panel. The Minister's decision of May 5, 2009, follows a request from the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The federal terms of reference to establish the review panel and the federal-provincial guidelines for the preparation of the environmental impact statement are being issued. The documents were finalized following recent consultations with First Nations and the public.
The Panel’s terms of reference provide information on the scope of the environmental assessment, on the process for conducting the review, as well as further details on the timelines associated with the key steps of the panel review.
The federal-provincial guidelines provide direction to the proponent and identify the information that will be required in the environmental impact statement—the key document which will outline the details of the project, its anticipated effects on the environment and the proposed measures to reduce these environmental effects.
The federal environmental assessment process will be coordinated to the extent possible with the provincial process in order to minimize duplication and increase efficiency and effectiveness.
The Agency will make funding available to assist First Nations and the public to participate in the environmental assessment process. Availability of participant funding will be announced in the coming weeks.
The Panel’s terms of reference and the guidelines, along with more information on the project is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry Internet site at www.ceaaacee.gc.ca, reference number 09-03-44825.
News Release, CEAA, May 21, 2009
OTTAWA - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is making available $250,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to participate in the environmental review for the proposed Bute Inlet Hydroelectric project in British Columbia.
This funding is being made available to help successful applicants review and comment on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be prepared by the proponent. The funding may also be used to prepare for and participate in the public hearings that will be announced at a later date.
Funding applications received by the Agency by July 6, 2009 will be considered. A Funding Review Committee, independent of the review process, will consider all applications and make recommendations on the allocation of funds.
Information on the funding program, the proposed project and on the environmental assessment process is available on the Agency Web site, registry number 09-05-44825.
Bute Hydro Inc. is proposing to construct 17 run-of-river hydroelectric facilities in the vicinity of Bute Inlet. Major components in addition to the generating facilities include a substation near the mouth of Southgate River, associated access roads and ancillary works, 216 km of 230 kV collector transmission line and 227 km of 500 kV trunk transmission line from the proposed substation near the mouth of Southgate River to the existing 500 kV substation at Malaspina.
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.
- - - - - - - -
To learn all sort of details about the Bute Inlet and other run-of-river projects, please visit the following websites:
http://www.buteinlet.net/
http://www.hydrofactsbc.ca/
http://www.saveourrivers.ca/
http://www.klahoose.org/
http://www.hawkeyeenergy.com/energy/index.html
http://www.plutonic.ca/s/Home.asp
There is still an opportunity...
Comment by norberto on 23rd May 2009
Robert, I am afraid you may be right, up to a point.
However, this assessment is at Federal level and they are giving the opportunity to communities to participate in the process, to express our worries, our reasons and objections to such a project. I want to believe we have a chance to stop this thing.
I really think these r-o-r projects are not "environmentally-friendly" and I will keep trying to stop them. What we need is reducing our energy consumption, not an alternative under the illusion of being "clean power", so tthere is no disruption to our destructive lifestyle.
Keep pushing endless economic growth, at the cost of ecosystems, is just wrong. What we need is to change our minds and our culture.
Please, notice that the Participant Funding Program News Release says:
"This funding is being made available to help successful applicants review and comment on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be prepared by the proponent. The funding may also be used to prepare for and participate in the public hearings that will be announced at a later date.
"Funding applications received by the Agency by July 6, 2009 will be considered. A Funding Review Committee, independent of the review process, will consider all applications and make recommendations on the allocation of funds."
And they also say:
"To apply for funding or to obtain more information on the program, contact:
Suzanne Osborne, Participant Funding Program
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160, Elgin St., 22nd floor Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 1-866-582-1884 / Fax: 613-948-9172
suzanne.osborne,,,ceaa-acee.gc.ca
Also, please check for more information about this here:
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/DocViewer_e.cfm?DocumentID=34506
You can also review all sort of documents on this project proposal here:
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?cear_id=44825
Including hundreds of public comments already filed are here:
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/05/documents-eng.cfm?CEAR_ID=44825&categoryID=7
thanks,
Robert, I am afraid you may be right, up to a point.
However, this assessment is at Federal level and they are giving the opportunity to communities to participate in the process, to express our worries, our reasons and objections to such a project. I want to believe we have a chance to stop this thing.
I really think these r-o-r projects are not "environmentally-friendly" and I will keep trying to stop them. What we need is reducing our energy consumption, not an alternative under the illusion of being "clean power", so tthere is no disruption to our destructive lifestyle.
Keep pushing endless economic growth, at the cost of ecosystems, is just wrong. What we need is to change our minds and our culture.
Please, notice that the Participant Funding Program News Release says:
"This funding is being made available to help successful applicants review and comment on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that will be prepared by the proponent. The funding may also be used to prepare for and participate in the public hearings that will be announced at a later date.
"Funding applications received by the Agency by July 6, 2009 will be considered. A Funding Review Committee, independent of the review process, will consider all applications and make recommendations on the allocation of funds."
And they also say:
"To apply for funding or to obtain more information on the program, contact:
Suzanne Osborne, Participant Funding Program
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160, Elgin St., 22nd floor Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 1-866-582-1884 / Fax: 613-948-9172
suzanne.osborne,,,ceaa-acee.gc.ca
Also, please check for more information about this here:
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/DocViewer_e.cfm?DocumentID=34506
You can also review all sort of documents on this project proposal here:
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/details-eng.cfm?cear_id=44825
Including hundreds of public comments already filed are here:
http://www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/05/documents-eng.cfm?CEAR_ID=44825&categoryID=7
thanks,
Rubber Stamp !
Comment by Robert Carter on 23rd May 2009
Do you really believe that these "environmental assessments" actually mean anything ? This is a politically motivated project and since Gordon Campbell won a 3rd majority I believe he can do what he likes and will.
Do you really believe that these "environmental assessments" actually mean anything ? This is a politically motivated project and since Gordon Campbell won a 3rd majority I believe he can do what he likes and will.
GE owns B.C>?
Comment by amber sprungman on 22nd May 2009
Dont forget who is providing the funding for this little green power company ( Plutonic), to build this project, General Electric of the United States.
Dont forget who is providing the funding for this little green power company ( Plutonic), to build this project, General Electric of the United States.