UPPER TOBA VALLEY HYDROELECTRIC PROJECT APPROVED







VICTORIA – Upper Toba Hydro Inc. (the proponent) has received an environmental assessment (EA) certificate for its proposed run-of-river hydroelectric project.



Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Blair Lekstrom made the decision to grant the EA certificate after considering the review led by B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).



The proposed $330-million project includes three generating facilities, which combined will produce up to 130 megawatts of electricity. It will be located within the Coast Range of southern British Columbia in the Toba River watershed at the head of Toba Inlet, approximately 100 kilometres north of Powell River. The project is the second phase of the proponent’s planned development in Toba Inlet and will primarily use the infrastructure already established by the East Toba River and Montrose Creek Hydroelectric Project, including transmission lines, roads, construction camp and other facilities. A 2.3-kilometre transmission line will also be built, connecting to the 230-kilovolt transmission line currently under construction.



The EAO Assessment Report concluded the project is not likely to have significant adverse effects, based on the mitigation measures and commitments included as conditions of the EA certificate.



The provincial EA certificate contains 52 commitments the proponent must implement throughout various stages of the project. Key commitments include the following:

· Maintaining sufficient in-stream flows to protect fish and fish habitat.

· Avoiding breeding birds, nesting habitats and mountain goat winter habitat.

· Developing a grizzly bear monitoring plan to the satisfaction of the Ministry of Environment.

· Developing mitigation, compensation and monitoring plans in consultation with regulatory agencies.



The project also triggered an environmental assessment as a screening under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. A co-operative environmental assessment was initiated pursuant to the Canada/British Columbia Agreement for Environmental Assessment. Federal authorities will be developing a separate federal screening report.



Before the project can proceed, the proponent will still need to obtain the necessary provincial licences, leases and other approvals, as well as regulatory approval from federal responsible authorities.



The Klahoose First Nation was consulted on the assessment and the Province is satisfied the Crown’s duties to consult and accommodate First Nations interests have been discharged.



The two-year construction phase is expected to generate an average of 470 person-years of full-time direct employment. Local and provincial taxes over the project’s lifespan will be approximately $154 million, including water rental fees ($110 million), land lease payments ($2.8 million) and school property taxes ($42 million).



Over the last six years, BC Hydro has imported up to 15 per cent of its electricity, much of it from traditional coal-fired plants in the U.S. and Alberta. These plants are a large source of CO2 emissions, which are contributing to climate change. Run-of-river hydroelectric power projects are consistent with the B.C. Energy Plan goal to have the province electricity self-sufficient by 2016, while producing zero net greenhouse gas emissions.



More information on the environmental assessment certificate can be found at www.eao.gov.bc.ca.

OF COURSE the government wants these projects to go through. They earn millions of dollars from them! Imagine if a private company had the power to decide if something was detrimental or not and then have the power to authorize it when they have a direct interest in the work going ahead? It could never happen because of the conflict of interest! This is no different!
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