Reasons for Determination

Date: September 8, 2014 EAB File No.: 2014-015 Transaction No.: 10001885

Project Title: Smokey Ridge Peat Harvest Proposal

Proponent: Premier Tech Horticulture Ltd. (Premier Tech)

Proposal: Premier Tech is proposing to harvest approximately 72 hectares of Sphagnum (peat) in the 162 hectare Smokey Ridge Bog (the project). The bog is located on Wildlife Habitat Protection Act (WHPA) land approximately 21 km northeast of the Town of Hudson Bay in the Rural Municipality (RM) of Hudson Bay No. 394. The harvested peat will be trucked approximately 175 km to the existing Premier Tech processing facility in Carrot River, . The project will provide approximately 10 years of harvesting activity. Infrastructure related activities for the proposed project would include the upgrade of 1.25 km of existing trail and construction of an internal bog road, perimeter drainage and discharge ditches, and associated site infrastructure.

The purpose of the project is to maintain Premier Tech’s current operational capacity of peat processing at their Carrot River facility.

The information provided in the project proposal has led to the determination that the described project does trigger criteria of section 2(d) of The Environmental Assessment Act (the Act) and is considered a “development” that is required to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

The above determination is based on an evaluation of the project against the criteria of section 2 (d) of the Act as described below:

a) have an effect [sic] on any unique, rare or endangered feature of the environment; • The proposed project site is on land designated as wildlife habitat pursuant to WHPA. The site is also located within the geographic boundary of the Boreal Plain Range (SK2) for woodland caribou as identified in the Recovery Strategy for the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) Boreal Population, in Canada, issued by Environment Canada in 2012. The boreal population of woodland caribou is designated as threatened by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and is provincially ranked as rare to uncommon (S3) in Saskatchewan. Peat bogs generally have the biophysical characteristics of habitat used for important life stages for caribou such as calving and the stripping of the peat bog will

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result in additional loss of habitat within the range for the local caribou population. The Federal Recovery Strategy for Woodland Caribou requires 65 per cent of habitat to remain undisturbed in areas identified as critical habitat for caribou. • Desktop surveys using information from the Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre (SKCDC) were conducted on May 9, 2014. Desktop surveys identified several sensitive species within 30 km of the project area including two amphibians, 33 birds, three insects, one mammal, and 55 plant species. Northern leopard frogs (federally listed as Special Concern) and Canadian Toad were identified during desktop surveys and both have associated setback distances. Although no federally listed rare plant species were detected, several S1 to S3 plant species were identified and all have associated provincial activity restriction guidelines. Fourteen bird species listed under SARA and/or COSEWIC were also identified as potentially occurring in the project area and have provincial setback guidelines associated with their nesting or breeding grounds. None of the insects identified are federally listed or have provincial setback guidelines although one S1 (extremely rare) species (Pepper and salt skipper) was identified during desktop survey as potentially occurring in the project area.

This criterion has been met. b) substantially utilize any provincial resource and in so doing pre-empt the use, or potential use, of that resource for any other purpose; • The proposed peat harvest will not significantly impact the extensive peat deposits in Saskatchewan and will not prevent the harvest or use of peat from these other areas for other purposes.

This criterion is not met. c) cause the emission of any pollutants or create by-products, residual or waste products which require handling and disposal in a manner that is not regulated by any other Act or regulation; • There will be no emission of pollutants or waste products generated as a result of this project requiring handling or disposal not regulated by another act or regulation.

This criterion is not met. d) cause widespread public concern because of potential environmental changes; • The project is located within the RM of Hudson Bay No. 394 on WHPA land and is surrounded on two sides (south and west) by active agricultural (pasture and/or cropping) lands. • Engagement activities have been carried out by Premier Tech in the RM of Hudson Bay No. 384; and with several First Nation and Métis communities including the Métis Nation

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of Saskatchewan Eastern Region II Hudson Bay Local No. 114 and Local No. 58; ; and Shoal Lake Nation. No significant concerns related to the project were identified during these engagement activities. • Although some local concern related to potential impacts of the project may be generated, results of engagement activities to date indicate widespread public concern is not likely to result from the project.

This criterion is not met. e) involve a new technology that is concerned with resource utilization and that may induce significant environmental change; or • Standard construction methods and harvesting equipment will be used to complete this project and no new technology is proposed for any project component.

This criterion is not met. f) have a significant impact on the environment or necessitate a further development which is likely to have a significant impact on the environment? • During the proposed 10 years of harvest, Premier Tech would harvest approximately 72 hectares or 44% of the Smokey Ridge bog. Upon conclusion of the project, Premier Tech proposes to decommission all facilities and conduct reclamation of the disturbed area by re-establishment of the pre-harvest water levels and introduction of donor moss to facilitate the re-establishment of Sphagnum dominated vegetation community within the bog. Regeneration of vegetation communities however, may take an extended period of time during which habitat in the area will not function as it did prior to disturbance. • The hydrological function of natural flood attenuation, water storage, and discharge will be modified during drainage and harvesting. The proposed drainage and peat harvesting associated with the project may have significant impacts on the rest of the bog area and other off-site areas. The extent and significance of these impacts will be assessed as part of the EIA for this project.

This criterion has been met.

Conclusion: Based on the above reasons, the ministry’s review of the project proposal concludes that the project is a “development” that is required to undergo an EIA and require a Ministerial Approval as provided in Section 8 of the Act.

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