PRELIMINARY SCREENING REPORT FORM
PRELIMINARY SCREENER: MVLWI3 EIRB REFERENCE I FILE REFERENCE NUMBER: MV2004X0047/MV2004L8-0004 NUMBER: TITLE: Permanent Bridge Installation ORGANIZATION: GNWT-Department of Transportation MEETING DATE: April 10, 2008
Type of Development: q New Amend, EIAB Ref. # Requires permit, license or authorization q Does not require permit, license or authorization
Project Summary
Construction Activities ® Installation of a three hundred and five (305) metre permanent multi-span steel bridge. ® Construction of approximately 2.6 kilometres of new winter road for re-alignment of the existing road.
Fuel Estimated volume of up to 10,000 litres of diesel fuel.
Equipment • Loader/backhoe Bulldozer • Dump Truck Welding Trucks • Piling Hammer • Crane • Fuel trucks • Generator cam • A camp could potentially be set up for this project; however, camp details will not be finalized until a contractor is selected.
Scope Construction of a permanent bridge over the Blackwater River and realignment of the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road. Activities will take place along the Mackenzie Valley Winter Road (Latitude 63° 56' 44.2" North and Longitude 124° 09' 28.3" West).
Principal Activities (related to scoping)
® Construction El Exploration qDecommissioning ® Installation El Industrial q Abandonment q Maintenance El Recreation q Aerial q Expansion q Municipal []Harvesting q Operation q Quarry ®Camp q Repair ® Linear / Corridor q Scientific/ q Research q Water Intake q Sewage q Solid Waste ® Other: Bridge Installation
Principal Development Components (related to scoping)
® Access Road ® Waste Management ® Construction q Disposal of hazardous waste q Abandonment'removal Waste generation q Modification e.g., widening, straightening q Sewage ® Automobile, Aircraft or Vessel Movement q Disposal of sewage q Blasting q Geoscientific Sampling ® Building q Trenching q Burning q Diamond drill q Burying q Borehole core sampling q Channeling q Bulk soil sampling ® Cut and Fill q gravel q Cutting of Trees or Removal of Vegetation q hydrological Testing q Dams and Impoundments q site Restoration q construction q fertilization q abandonmentiremoval q grubbing q modification ® planting/seeding q Ditch Construction o reforestation q Drainage Alteration q scarify
MV2004X0047/MV2004L8-0004 - GNWT, Department of Transportation - Blackwater River -1- q Drilling other than Geoscientific q spraying q Ecological Surveys q recontouring E Excavation Slashing and removal of vegetation q Explosive Storage q Soil Testing Fuel Storage E Stream Crossin g/Bridging Topsoil, Overburden or Soil q Tunneling/Underground 0 fill 0 removal q Other (describe): q disposal 4 storage
NTS Topographic Map Sheet Numbers 95N
Latitude / Longitude and UTM System: 63' 56' 44.2" N and 124' 09' 28.3" W
Nearest Community and Water Body: Wrigley, Black Water River
Land Status (consultation information)
Free Hold / Private q Commissioners Land Federal Crown Land q Municipal Land
Transboundary Implications q British Columbia q Alberta q Saskatchewan q Yukon q Nunavut q Wood Buffalo National Park q Inuvialuit Settlement Region
Type of Transboundary Implication: q impact I Effect q Development q Public Concern (DESCRIBE)
PHYSICAL - CHEMICAL EFFECTS
IMPACT MITIGATION 1. Ground Water
q water table alteration
water quality changes A hydrocarbon spill could result in changes to groundwater quality. The applicant has a Spill Contingency Plan in place to mitigate any potential impacts. Conditions 31, 39, and 50 of the Draft Land Use Permit and Part C, Item (1), (2), and (3) of the draft Water License address water quality issues.
q infiltration changes
q other q N/A
IMPACT MITIGATION 2. Surface Water
q flow or level changes
0 water quality changes A hydrocarbon spill could result in changes to surface water quality. The applicant has a Spill Contingency Plan in place to mitigate any potential impacts, Conditions 31, 39, and 50 of the Draft Land Use Permit and Part C, Item (1), (2), and (3) of the draft Water License address water q uality issues.
q water quantity changes
0 Drainage pattern changes
q temperature
q wetland changes / loss
q other:
q N/A
MV2004X0047/MV2004L8-0004 - GNWT, Depa rtment of Transportation - Blackwater River IMPACT MITIGATION 3. Noise
noise in/near water Noise levels may temporarily disturb wildlife. However. this impact is expected to be minimal, localized and short term. The project will help reduce future noise levels, as the winter crossing construction will not need to occur annually.
other: noise increase Increased noise levels on site. The closest communities to the site, Wrigley and Tulita, should not be impacted by the increased noise level. This increase in noise will be temporary. q N/A
IMPACT MITIGATION 4. Land
geologic structure changes Necessary for bridge construction, no mitigation.
soil contamination A hydrocarbon spill could result in soil contamination. The applicant has submitted a Spill Contingency Plan outlining preventive measures and spill clean-up.
q buffer zone loss
soil compaction & settling Completion of work during the winter months on frozen ground will minimize soil compaction from heavy equipment.
Destabilization 1 erosion Movement of heavy equipment and earth clearing could potentially cause soil erosion. All work will be completed in the winter months, on frozen ground, to help prevent erosion. In addition, the applicant will implement erosion control procedures, including silt fencing and revegetation of disturbed areas. Conditions 28 and 59 of the current LUP and Part C, item (9) of the Water License address erosion.
0 permafrost regime alteration
q other: explosives/scarring
q N/A
IMPACT MITIGATION 5. Non Renewable Natural Resources
q resource depletion
q other:
N/A
IMPACT MITIGATION 6. Air/Climate! Atmosphere
Other An increase of dust levels may occur, this impact is expected to be minimal and short term.
0 N/A
BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
IMPACT MITIGATION 1. Vegetation
q species composition
q species introduction
q toxin / heavy accumulation
q other:
0 N/A
IMPACT MITIGATION 2. Wildlife & Fish
MV2004X0047/MV2004L8-0004 - GNWT, Department of Transportation - Biackwater River -3- q effects on rare, threatened or endangered species
El fish population changes q waterfowl population changes q breeding disturbance 0 population reduction q species diversity change q health changes (Identify)
® behavioural changes Some species may avoid the area during construction. This effect is localized and short term, therefore minimal impact is anticipated. (Identify)
habitat changes / effects As noted above, some species may avoid the area. This is expected to be short term and minimal impact is anticipated. q game species effects q toxins / heavy metals q forestry changes
El agricultural changes q other: q NfA
INTERACTING ENVIRONMENT
IMPACT MITIGATION 1. Habitat and Communities q predator-prey q wildlife habitat / ecosystem Composition changes q reduction / removal of keystone or endangered species q removal of wildlife corridor or buffer zone q other:
® NIA
IMPACT MITIGATION 2. Social and Economic q planning / zoning changes or conflicts
MV2004X0047/MV2004L8-0004 - GNWT, Department of Transportation - Blackwater River -4- q increase in urban facilities or services use q rental house q airport operations / capacity changes q human health hazard
q impair the recreational use of water or aesthetic quality
q affect water use for other purposes
q affect other land use operations
quality of life changes Positive impact. Local residents could potentially use the bridge for a longer period of time, as the condition of the winter road would determine usage rather than the timing of fall freeze-up and spring break-up. q public concern q other:
q N/A
IMPACT MITIGATION 3. Cultural and Heritage
q effects to historic property
q increased economic pressure on historic properties
q change to or loss of historic resources
q change to or loss of archaeological resources
q increased pressure on archaeological sites
q change to or loss of aesthetically impo rtant site
q effects to aboriginal lifestyle
q other:
N/A
NOTES:
Consultation
Pursuant to section 27 subsections (a) and (b) of the Deb Cho First Nations ( DCFN) Interim Measures Agreement, the MVLWB determined that written notice was given to the DCFN and that a reasonable period of time was allowed for DCFN to make representations with respect to the application.
MV2004X00471MV2004L8-0004 - GNWT, Department of Transportation - Blackwater River -5- PRELIMINARY SCREENER / REFERRING BODY INFORMATION (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY)
RA or ADVICE PERMIT IDRA REQUIRED FederalfTerritorial Environment Canada q ® q Fisheries and Oceans q ® q Indian and Northern Affairs Canada q ® q Canadian Heritage ( Parks Canada) q q q National Energy Board q q q Natural Resources Canada q q q Public Works and Gov't Services q El q Transport Canada q q q Northern Oil and Gas Directorate q q q Canadian Nuclear Safety q q q Industry Canada q q q Canadian Transportation Agency El q q National Defence q q q GNWT-RWE7 q ® q GNWT - MACA q ® 0 GNWT-Transportation q ® q Prince of Wales Heritage Center q ® El MVEIRB q ® q Aboriginal / First Nations Deh Cho Deh Cho First Nations 0 ® q Liidlii Kue First Nation (Ft Simpson) q q q Deh Gah Got'ie Dene Council (Ft Prov.) q ® q Acho Dene Koe First Nation (Fort Liard) El ® q Nahanni Butte First Nation q ® q Pehdzeh Ki First Nation (Wrigley) q ® q TthedzehK'edeli First Nation (JMR) q ® q Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation (Kakisa) q ® q Sambaa Ke Dene Band (Trout Lake) q ® q K'atlodeeohe First Nation (Hay River) q ® q West Point First Nations (Hay River) q ® q Hamlet of Fort Providence q ® 0 Hamlet of Fort Liard q ® q Village of Fort Simpson El ® q Town of Hay River q ® q Enterprise Settlement Corporation q ® q North Slave Dogrib Treaty 11 Council q q El Dogrib Rae Band q q q Wha Ti First Nation q q 0 Dechi Laot'l Council (Wekweti) q q q Gameti First Nation (Rae Lakes) q El q Lutselk'e Dene First Nation El q q Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Ndilo) q q q Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Dettah) q q 0 Rea-Edzo Metis Local #64 q q q North Slave Metis Alliance q q q Hamlet of Rae Edzo q q q Charter Community of Wha Ti El q q City of Yellowknife q q [) South Slave Fort Smith Metis Council q q 0 Salt River First Nations q q q Smith Landing First Nation q q q Katlodeeche First Nation q q El West Point First Nation q q q Northwest Territory Metis Nation q q q Hay River Metis Council q q q Deninu Ku'e First Nations q q q Fors Resolution Metis Council q q q Deninu Ku'e Env. Working Committee q q q Akaitcho Territory Government q q q Town of Hay River q q q ©eninoo Community Council 0 q q Town of Fort Smith q El q Enterprise Settlement Corporation q q q
MV2004X0047IMV2004L8-0004 - GNWT, Department of Transportation - Blackwater River -6- REASONS FOR DECISION (LIST ALL REASONS AND SUPPORTING RATIONALES FOR PRELIMINARY SCREENING DECISION
DECISION:
The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board (The Board) is satisfied that the preliminary screening of application MV2004X00471MV2004L8-2004, GNWT-Department of Transportation has been completed in accordance with section 125 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act.
The Board is satisfied that a reasonable period of notice was given to Communities and First Nations affected by the application as required by subsection 63(2) of the MVRMA so that they could provide comments to the Board.
Having reviewed all relevant evidence on the Public Registry, including the submissions of the Applicant, the written comments received by the Board and any staff reports prepared for the Board, the Board has decided that in its opinion that:
® there is no likelihood that the proposed development might have a significant adverse impact on the environment; and • there is no likelihood that the proposed development might be a cause of public concern.
The Board is also of the opinion that the application can proceed through the regulatory process and that any impacts of the development on the environment can be mitigated through the imposition of the terms and conditions in the attached Land Use Permit.
As a result, the Board, having due regard to the facts and circumstances, the merits of the submissions made to it, and to the purpose, scope and intent of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act and the Mackenzie Valley Land Use Regulations has decided that this Land Use Permit be issued subject to the terms and conditions contained therein.
PRELIMINARY SCREENING DECISION
Outside Local Government Boundaries
q The development proposal might have a significant adverse impact on the environment, refer it to the EIRB.
0 Proceed with regulatory process and/or implementation.
q The development proposal might have public concern, refer it to the EIRB.
Proceed with regulatory process and/or implementation.
q Wholly within Local Government Boundaries
q The development proposal is likely to have a significant adverse impact on air, water or renewable resources, refer it to the EIRB. q Proceed with regulatory process and/or implementation.
q The development proposal might have public concern, refer it to the EIRB.
q Proceed with regulatory process and/or implementation.
Preliminary Screening Organization Signatures
Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board
April 10, 2008
MV2 04X0047/ V2004L8 -0004 - GNWT, DepartrrtentDepartment of Transportation - B ackwater River