Chaplin Wind-Energy Project Environmental Impact Statement
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Chaplin Wind-Energy Project Environmental Impact Statement Prepared for: Prepared by: Windlectric Inc. Stantec Consulting Ltd. (a subsidiary of Algonquin Power Co.) Stantec Project No. 111440221 75-24th Street E, Ste 100 354 Davis Road March 2015 Saskatoon, SK S7K 0K3 Oakville, ON, L6J 2X1 March 11, 2015 Ministry of the Environment Environmental Assessment Branch 486-3211 Albert Street Regina, Canada S4S 4W6 Attention: Brianne England, Senior Environmental Assessment Administrator Reference: Chaplin Wind-Energy Project – Environmental Impact Statement Dear Brianne: Windlectric Inc (Windlectric or the Proponent) is proposing to develop, construct and operate the Chaplin Wind-Energy Project (the Project) near Chaplin, Saskatchewan. Algonquin Power Co. (on behalf of Windlectric) is pleased to submit for approval the enclosed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with The Environmental Assessment Act. This EIS has been prepared in accordance with the Terms of Reference (TOR) as approved by the Ministry of the Environment on September 17, 2014. The Project is located primarily on land in the Rural Municipalities (RMs) of Chaplin and Morse, approximately 90 km east of Swift Current and 155 km west of Regina, Saskatchewan. The proposed Project will consist of a maximum of 88 wind-turbine generators (WTGs), depending on the final selection of the WTG model and manufacturer, and will include supporting infrastructure such as access roads, an underground fibre-optic communications network, an operations and maintenance building, an electrical collection system for the generated power (including overhead collector lines along RM road allowances), and a new 34.5-kV:138-kV substation. The Proponent retained Stantec Consulting Ltd. to assist in the preparation of the EIS. Windlectric has met the requirements of the The Environmental Assessment Act as detailed within the Proposed Chaplin Wind-Energy Project: Project Proposal (Environmental Assessment) (Stantec 2013a) document submitted for review July 2, 2013; the Proposed Chaplin Wind-Energy Project Supplemental Information to Project Proposal (Environmental Assessment) (Stantec 2013b) document, submitted on December 20, 2013; and, this EIS. 1 From the beginning of the Project, Windlectric has sought feedback from, and will continue to engage First Nations, Métis, the public (including local communities, non-governmental organizations [NGOs] and other stakeholders) and government (RMs, municipal, provincial and federal) and regulatory agencies. If you have any questions or require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned at 905-465-4518. Algonquin Power Co. On behalf of Windlectric Inc. _________________________ Sean Fairfield Senior Manager – Project Planning Attachment: Environmental Impact Statement cc: Neil Cory, Stantec Consulting Ltd. Rob Nadolny, Stantec Consulting Ltd. 2 CHAPLIN WIND-ENERGY PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... I ABBREVIATIONS...................................................................................................................... VII 1.0 INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................1.1 1.1 THE PROPONENT............................................................................................................. 1.2 1.2 CONTACT INFORMATION.............................................................................................. 1.2 1.3 THE PROJECT NEED AND LOCATION ........................................................................... 1.5 1.4 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK.......................................................................................... 1.6 1.5 APPROACH TO PROJECT PLANNING .......................................................................... 1.7 1.6 DOCUMENT LAYOUT...................................................................................................... 1.8 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...............................................................................................2.1 2.1 PROJECT SUMMARY....................................................................................................... 2.1 2.1.1 Project Phases and Schedule.................................................................... 2.3 2.1.2 Project Alternatives ..................................................................................... 2.4 2.1.3 Project Location and Site Layout.............................................................. 2.7 2.1.4 Project Components and Associated Infrastructure.............................. 2.9 2.2 PROJECT CONSTRUCTION AND WORKFORCE......................................................... 2.14 2.3 PROJECT ACTIVITIES..................................................................................................... 2.16 2.3.1 Construction............................................................................................... 2.16 2.3.2 Operation ................................................................................................... 2.22 2.3.3 Maintenance ............................................................................................. 2.23 2.4 PROJECT DECOMMISSIONING ................................................................................... 2.25 2.4.1 Conceptual Decommissioning Plan ....................................................... 2.25 2.4.2 Reclamation............................................................................................... 2.29 2.4.3 Institutional Control.................................................................................... 2.30 2.5 PROJECT MITIGATION, MONITORING AND FOLLOW-UP COMMITMENTS ............. 2.30 3.0 CONSULTATION AND ENGAGEMENT .........................................................................3.1 3.1 PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION AND ABORIGINAL ENGAGEMENT ................................................................................................................ 3.1 3.1.1 Overall Objects............................................................................................ 3.1 3.1.2 Public and Stakeholder Consultation....................................................... 3.2 3.1.3 Project Support ............................................................................................ 3.6 3.2 GOVERNMENT LIAISON ................................................................................................. 3.6 3.3 FIRST NATIONS AND METIS ENGAGEMENT................................................................. 3.11 3.4 FIRST NATIONS, METIS NATION AND ABORIGINAL PEOPLES’ LIAISON.................... 3.13 3.5 SUMMARY OF CONSULATION AND ENGAGEMENT RESULTS................................... 3.13 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND METHODS ........................................4.1 4.1 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................... 4.1 4.2 PROCESS OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................... 4.1 CHAPLIN WIND-ENERGY PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT 4.3 SCOPING THE ASSESSMENT........................................................................................... 4.2 4.3.1 Selection of Valued Components ............................................................ 4.2 4.3.2 Project – Valued Component Interactions.............................................. 4.4 4.3.3 Assessment Boundaries............................................................................... 4.5 4.3.4 Significance Criteria.................................................................................... 4.6 4.4 EXISTING CONDITIONS................................................................................................... 4.6 4.5 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ASSESSMENT...................................................................... 4.7 4.5.1 Assessment of Project-related Environmental Effects ............................ 4.7 4.5.2 Assessment of Cumulative Effects............................................................. 4.8 4.5.3 Significance Determination for Residual Environmental Effects......... 4.10 4.5.4 Effects of the Environment on the Project ............................................. 4.12 4.5.5 Accidents, Malfunctions and Unplanned Events.................................. 4.12 4.6 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................. 4.12 4.6.1 Follow-up and Monitoring ........................................................................ 4.12 5.0 VALUED COMPONENT SCOPING ...............................................................................5.1 5.1 TECHNICAL PROJECT PROPOSAL................................................................................. 5.2 5.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................... 5.2 5.3 EIS TERMS OF REFERENCE .............................................................................................. 5.3 5.3.1 Valued Components .................................................................................. 5.4 5.4 SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 5.5 6.0 VALUED COMPONENT EFFECTS AND MITIGATION