News Release
Site C Clean Energy Project Environmental Assessment Process and Draft Agreement Released for Public Comment

OTTAWA, September 30, 2011 – The Honourable Peter Kent, federal Minister of the Environment and the Honourable Terry Lake, British Columbia Minister of the Environment, announced today that the Site C Clean Energy Project in British Columbia will undergo a harmonized environmental assessment, including a review by a joint panel.

Both ministers have determined that a single cooperative environmental assessment, including a joint review panel, will avoid unnecessary duplication and delays. The draft agreement specifies the process for conducting the review, outlines the joint review panel terms of reference and identifies the timelines associated with key steps of the cooperative process. The public has 30 days to submit comments on the draft agreement, from October 7, 2011 until November 7, 2011.

To obtain more information on this project or to view the draft agreement, consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, reference number 11-05-63919 or the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office website at www.eao.gov.bc.ca.

Federal Funding Available

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is making available $140,000 under its participant funding program to assist individuals and groups to participate in the environmental assessment process for this project.

Applications received by November 7, 2011 will be considered. To submit an application or to obtain additional information on the program, please visit www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca.

The Project

The proposed project consists of constructing and operating a dam and 1,100-megawatt hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River in northeastern British Columbia. The proposed project would be the third in a series of dams on the Peace River in British Columbia. 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-kilometre long reservoir, realignment of four sections of Highway 29 and two 77-kilometre transmission lines along an existing transmission line right-of-way connecting Site C to Peace Canyon.

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:

• Annie Roy
  Communications Manager
  Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
  Tel.: 613-957-0396
• Suntanu Dalal
  Communications Officer
  British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office
  Tel.: 250-387-9745