FINAL PROJECT SPECIFIC GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE WILDWEST STEELHEAD COMMERCIAL FISH FARM ON LUCKY LAKE,

These guidelines have been prepared by Saskatchewan Environment to assist the Wildwest Steelhead Fish Farm with the environmental impact assessment of the proposed expansion of their cage culture facility on Lake Diefenbaker, including establishment of subsidiary cage assemblies in three new locations.

These guidelines, in draft form, were available for public review from October 13 to November 13, 2007. Based upon comments received by the undersigned, these final guidelines have been revised (revisions are underlined) and provided to Wildwest Steelhead to conduct the impact assessment and prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

As indicated in section 1.2, when the EIS is completed it will be circulated to a technical review committee for comment; any additional information requirements will be identified to Wildwest Steelhead for clarification. Once the EIS has been completed in final form it will be available, along with the technical review comments, for a 30 day public review period during which written comments on the EIS and the project may be submitted to Environmental Assessment Branch for consideration, prior to the Minister’s decision.

Tom Maher Environmental Assessment Branch Ministry of Environment March 19, 2008

G:\Planning & Risk Analysis\Environmental Assessment\Common\data\Tom\2005\190 Wildwest Steelhead\Wildwest Final PSGs March 19 2008.doc Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 2 March 19, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

1.0 INTRODUCTION 3 1.1 The Project 3 1.2 Saskatchewan’s Environmental Assessment Process 4 1.3 Public Involvement 4 1.4 Intergovernmental Co-operation on Environmental Assessment 5 1.5 Executive Summary and Introduction 5 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION 7 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT 8 4.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND LAND USE ISSUES 9 5.0 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 10 6.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT 10 7.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION 10 7.1 Impacts to Environment from Project 10 7.2 Impacts to Project from Environment 12 8.0 MONITORING 13 9.0 DECOMMISSIONING, RECLAMATION AND ABANDONMENT 13 10.0 APPROVALS 13 11.0 SUMMARY 14 Figure 1. Satellite image of Lake Diefenbaker, showing existing and proposed cage culture sites: 15 Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 3 March 19, 2008 1.0 INTRODUCTION

Wildwest Steelhead operates a commercial fish farm on the west side of Lake Diefenbaker at Cactus Bay, 6 km north of the ferry crossing. The farm utilizes cage culture for the production of rainbow trout (steelhead strain). Wildwest is currently licensed for the production of 1,450 tonnes of annual fish production, using up to 1,800 tonnes of fish food each year. This limit is based on a maximum phosphorus input to the lake of 25 tonnes, and assumed that the phosphorus content of the feed was in the order of 1.5 to 1.7%. Current feed formulations are closer to 1.1 to 1.3% phosphorus, and manufacturers are working to lower the levels further.

Wildwest has applied to Saskatchewan Environment for an increase in their licensed production limits, based upon the abovementioned lower phosphorus concentrations in the fish feed, as well as better feed conversion rates than had been used in the model to calculate a 1,200 tonne limit in 1999. Wildwest has provided calculations to indicate that up to 2,200 tonnes of fish could now be produced without exceeding the 25 tonne phosphorus loading limit.

However, from a risk management standpoint, it is in Wildwest’s interest to distribute the production to several production sites, rather than expanding production at the existing location at Cactus Bay. Wildwest feels that the use of multiple sites reduces the likelihood that the overall nutrient loading would trigger an algae bloom or other event, and that there would be less chance of the entire production facility being affected by a single environmental event, such as ice damage or severe weather. For example, as the ice in Lake Diefenbaker was breaking up in April of 2000 a sudden storm caused a massive ice floe to strike the cages in Cactus Bay, pushing them nearly onto the shore and resulting in the release of 400,000 fish into the lake as well as substantial mortality among the fish which remained in the cages.

1.1 The Project:

Wildwest is proposing to establish three additional cage culture sites on Lake Diefenbaker. Each would be sized to produce 335 tonnes of rainbow trout annually using 10 to 12 cages attached to a walkway system. The proposed sites are:  Kadla Coulee, 3.5 km north of the current location,  an unnamed bay referred to as the South Ferry Site, 9.35 km south of the current site; and  Belhumeur Bay, 15 km south of the current site. All new proposed sites are shown on the map (Figure 1).

The sites would be serviced by boat (summer) or by truck/snowmachine (winter) from the main facility in Cactus Bay; it is expected that there would be no development of shore facilities at the new sites, except for possibly docks, storage sheds, or road improvements.

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 4 March 19, 2008 1.2 Saskatchewan’s Environmental Assessment Process

The Environmental Assessment Act (the Act) provides for a formal EIA process whereby projects which pose a significant environmental risk are suitably evaluated and approved by the Minister of the Environment prior to proceeding. Once the minister’s approval is obtained, subject to any terms and conditions that the minister considers appropriate, the proponent may proceed to obtain all other permits and approvals necessary under provincial or federal legislation.

Under the Act, a project which meets one or more of six criteria is considered a “development” and requires a full EIA. The six criteria are listed in section 2(d) of The Act: “development” means any project, operation or activity or any alteration or expansion of any project, operation or activity which is likely to:

(i) have an affect on any unique, rare or endangered feature of the environment; (ii) substantially utilize any provincial resource and in so doing pre-empt the use, or potential use, of that resource for any other purpose; (iii) 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; (iv) cause widespread public concern because of potential environmental changes; (v) involve a new technology that is concerned with resource utilization and that may induce significant environmental change; or (vi) have a significant impact on the environment or necessitate a further development which is likely to have a significant impact on the environment.

It is the opinion of Environmental Assessment Branch (EAB) that this project has the potential to have a significant impact on the environment, would substantially utilize a provincial resource – namely the aquaculture carrying capacity of Lake Diefenbaker, and is likely to generate some level of public concern. While the ultimate determination of whether any project is defined as a “development” is up to the courts to decide, Wildwest Steelhead is in agreement with the EAB opinion and feels that it is in the best interests of the environment and the company to proceed by means of a formal EIA.

The EIA process is shown graphically in Figure 2. This document, the Draft Project Specific Guidelines (PSGs), is available for public review for a 30 day period. Following the review, the final PSGs will be developed and provided to the proponent to conduct the EIA.

1.3 Public Involvement

Public involvement is an essential ingredient in the EIA process. The proponent is expected to undertake a program of public consultation with affected local residents to ensure that they are adequately informed about the project and have the opportunity to provide input to the proponent and to regulatory agencies. Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 5 March 19, 2008

These project specific guidelines are being made available for public review for 30 days, to allow for incorporation of comments and suggestions in the final guidelines.

When the EIS has been completed and reviewed by the Technical Review Panel, the statement and the review comments will be available for a further public review period prior to the minister’s decision regarding the proposal.

1.4 Intergovernmental Co-operation on Environmental Assessment

In accordance with the -Saskatchewan Agreement on Environmental Assessment Co-operation (2005), Environmental Assessment Branch of Saskatchewan Environment advised the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) of the initial request from Wildwest Steelhead to increase production and of the intention of Wildwest and SE to proceed by means of the EIA process.

1.5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND INTRODUCTION

The EIS should include an executive summary and introduction. The executive summary should briefly summarize the EIS with respect to the following topics:  description of the project  purpose of the project, including any alternative means of achieving purpose  potential environmental effects of the project, short or long term, or cumulative, including socio-economic  feasible means of mitigating effects  summary of public consultation  plans for monitoring impacts  contingency plans for upset situations  decommissioning and reclamation

The introduction should include a brief description of the project, including the rationale.

For the benefit of reviewers, many of whom will not be familiar with the workings of a large fish farming and processing operation, the introduction should include a detailed description of the existing fish farm and operations, including such information as:

 History. The EIA should include a brief history of the establishment of the fish farm and the changes that have taken place over the years, including a summary of production volumes. This section should also discuss important past experiences of the fish farm, problems faced and solutions, improvements to structures, rearing facilities, and waste management etc.

 Location. Include a description of the site of the current fish farm, including a map and a diagram showing cages, buildings, and other infrastructure.

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 6 March 19, 2008  Operations. The EIA should provide reviewers with a good overview of the operations currently taking place at Wildwest, including fish imports, hatchery, cages, processing plant, numbers and weight of fish produced, how much feed is used, method of feeding, disease prevention and control, escape prevention, processing, sales etc. Annual inputs and outputs. (Note: The EIS is a public document; however, confidential business or proprietary information, not related to pollutants, public health or human safety may be withheld from public scrutiny under Section 7 of the Act. Wildwest should identify any such information within the EIS and locate the information in a separate appendix.)

 Employment: Number of employees currently on staff, duties, schedule, traffic, value to nearby communities, etc.

 Environmental Protection: Describe the environmental protection activities currently being used by Wildwest to minimize impacts at the fish farm. What is the water source and how is it treated for use? What volumes of processing wastewater, sewage, fish processing waste, and other waste materials are produced and how are they handled?

 Other Users: Lake Diefenbaker is a heavily utilized recreational lake, and supports angling, recreational boating, sailing, wind-surfing, snowmobiling, sightseeing etc. It is also a source of water for drinking and irrigation. What effects has the development of the fish farm at the current site had on these activities?

 Predator control: The EIS should describe predator problems experienced to date and measures taken to prevent and minimize predator damage. How many predators are killed annually? What permits are required?

 Monitoring: The EIS should contain a summary of environmental data collected by Wildwest over the years, including the compulsory water and sediment testing results, as well as any other environmental information or trend data which could be useful to reviewers.

 A synopsis of pertinent information from past studies of aquaculture carrying capacity, as well as a bibliography of reference studies on the Basin and Lake Diefenbaker

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 7 March 19, 2008

2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The EIA should provide detailed descriptions of all project phases, including planning, development, and operation. For the project as a whole, the information should include:

 Project ownership  Location (s)  Rationale  Anticipated schedule and project life

For each new site, the EIA should describe:

 Proposed facilities for each site; cages, structures, anchors, marker buoys, shore based facilities, docks, power supply, lighting, washroom and toilet facilities, shelters, access roads etc. A map should be including indicating location and layout;  Construction location and schedule  Proposed operations: if operations are expected to be fundamentally the same at all sites, only one description is necessary: o Species of fish to be cultured, including strain and source; o Monthly summary production plan for the operation at a steady state (i.e. when up and running) capacity. For each month, include expected average water temperature, number of fish in each age class, average size, total biomass, stocking density and food consumption. Provide annual predicted totals for production tonnage and feed consumption, and average expected harvest size o Expected level of activity; daily, weekly, monthly; i.e. normal daily work schedule in summer season, including arrival of workers, supplies, transfer of fish, etc. Expected weekly and monthly activity totals – boat traffic, fish transfers, feed hauling, waste and mort transportation, net inspection and cleaning, environmental monitoring; o Type of feed to be used, composition, method of feeding, use of medicated feed, storage and handling. Methods of monitoring and optimizing feed conversion. o Fish health management: Expected disease conditions and treatments, therapeutant use and storage, isolation of treated stocks to ensure adequate post-treatment withdrawal time. o Predator control. Anticipated predator problems and measures to minimize predator attraction, damage and mortality. o Hazardous materials: provide a list and specifications for any hazardous materials which will be stored or used on site. Provide details regarding transportation, storage, use and disposal of these materials. Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 8 March 19, 2008 o Waste materials: Provide procedures for collection and removal of routine garbage, human waste, morts etc. o Contingency plans for spills, storm damage, disease or environmental stress o Security and OH&S issues, cage marking and lighting.

It is expected that the establishment of three satellite cage structures and the associated increase in overall production will result in increased activity at the present fish farm, office, and processing plant location. The EIA should describe anticipated changes to physical structures and operations at Cactus Bay which will be needed, due to the expanded production, including:

 Office structures, parking, roadways.  Storage structures; will any additional storage space be required for feed or equipment?  Sewage, effluent, and fish waste handling infrastructure; can the current infrastructure handle the increased volumes and how?  Hatchery; Will any expansion of the hatchery facility be required to produce the anticipated number of fingerlings?  Aquatic facilities; will any additional cages be required? Will there be additional docks, boat launches, or loading and unloading equipment related to transporting fish to and from new sites?  Other infrastructure: What additional boats, transportation and fish handling equipment will be needed?  Hatchery volumes. What changes will take place with the hatchery operations to produce the increased number of fingerlings? Is the water supply adequate? How much effluent is produced and how is it treated?  Boat and vehicle traffic. Since the current site will be the hub for servicing the new sites, how much additional boat traffic will be generated from the expansion? What is the expected impact, if any?  Processing: can the current plant process the anticipated production from the expanded operations? Is there sufficient processing space, storage space for incoming fish, outgoing product, and associated packaging material? Is there sufficient ice-making capacity?  Energy demand. What is the anticipated increase in energy demand associated with the proposal? This should consider fuel consumption for boats, vehicles and other equipment; electrical consumption, hot water supply, etc.

3.0 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT

The EIS should contain a complete and accurate description of the existing environment which may reasonably be expected to be affected by the project.

All relevant data that are included in the EIA should be collected using accepted methodologies. These methodologies should be consistent in order to allow comparative use of the data and facilitate ecosystem management. Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 9 March 19, 2008

The database in the EIS should provide a sound basis for the environmental impact assessment of the project as well as the operational monitoring and post-operational decommissioning and reclamation.

The data should satisfy the following criteria:

 That the baseline data accurately describe the environment affected by the project as proposed, such that both project-specific and cumulative impacts can be predicted. To the extent possible, existing data can be used to demonstrate how historic industrial activities have influenced the current status of the site  That the data provide a sound basis for comparative monitoring and the development of sound decommissioning and reclamation plans  That the EIS be self supporting, in terms of data availability and presentation  That the data be stored in an acceptable electronic format and available to Saskatchewan Environment on request

Lake Diefenbaker: The EIS should provide a good overview of Lake Diefenbaker, including:

 Geographical and geological information on the surrounding area, germane to the proposal, as well as history of the lake  Bathymetry, annual flow data, water chemistry, temperature regimes, average and extreme lake levels over time, average and extreme inflows and outflows over time  Water supply commitments for river flows, reservoirs, domestic water supply and irrigation  Biological information, particularly fish species known to exist in the lake. Also use of lake by waterfowl  Other users of the lake; anglers, recreational boaters, snowmobilers, sailboats  Historical and current trophic status of the lake, depending on available data and new water sampling

New sites: description of present conditions at each site, including:

 Map of site with existing users, planned structures  Bathymetry of site, currents, any nearby inlets  Physical characteristics: water chemistry, sediment sampling  Biological conditions at the site; benthic community, critical fish habitat, fish migratory pathways, migratory bird nesting, feeding, or staging areas, database survey for known incidences of rare or endangered species

4.0 SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND LAND USE ISSUES

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 10 March 19, 2008 The EIS should describe changes to employment, skill levels, recreational use of the aquaculture sites, local businesses, and traffic that will occur as a result of the development.

The EIS should also describe any aboriginal or Treaty considerations related to the project.

5.0 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

Wildwest Steelhead is an ongoing fish farming and processing operation which is required to meet the requirements of The Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and regulations.

The EIS should describe Wildwest Steelhead’s current occupational health and safety program and identify any new issues or critical points that will require changes or additions to the OH&S program.

6.0 PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT

Public consultation is an essential component of the environmental assessment process. This is particularly true for a project such as this, which involves the use of portions of Lake Diefenbaker, an important recreational lake and reservoir, with multiple users. Efforts should be made to involve the public in both issue identification and resolution.

Wildwest should ensure that local residents and organizations are fully informed about the proposal, including potential short term, long term, or cumulative impacts and mitigation measures, as well as the benefits of the project. This could be accomplished through open house meetings, letters to municipal councils, or media releases.

The EIS should include a description of the public involvement process that Wildwest has implemented, documentation of comments received, and how the proponent will take public concerns into account, with particular emphasis on locally affected persons.

7.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION

7.1 IMPACTS TO THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE PROJECT

The EIS should document and evaluate the significance of positive and negative project related effects on the environment of the project area. It should consider the possible effects of accidents, upset conditions, or malfunctions as well as the projected effects of standard operating conditions.

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 11 March 19, 2008 The EIS should document methods to avoid, minimize, or mitigate potential impacts which have been identified in the assessment process. Any residual impacts which cannot be mitigated should be identified and their significance discussed. If significant differences are expected between sites, they should be treated separately in the EIS.

Particular topics which must be addressed:

Water Quality: Cage culture is considered to be an intensive aquaculture activity, meaning that large numbers of fish are kept in a confined area and are fed with artificial feed. As a result, there is an overall nutrient loading to the environment. Nutrient chemicals, particularly phosphorus, are available from unused fish food and from fish feces. In addition, the fish excrete nitrogen in the form of ammonia and urea directly into the water.

The EIS should pay particular attention to the question of nutrient loading, methods to minimize phosphorus levels and maximize feed efficiency. How will the nutrients be dispersed, can the dispersion pattern be modeled, what is the dilution zone? What local effects (e.g. algae, oxygen depletion, etc.) may be expected from the nutrient load and how will these situations be dealt with?

This section should include references to past experience and water quality test results, as well as related reference material, as available, from scientific literature and ongoing research, (e.g. the Experimental Lakes Study on cage culture).

The EIS should assess the likelihood of potential impacts on water quality such that additional treatment would be required by downstream water treatment plants.

Since the year to year flow volumes in Lake Diefenbaker vary greatly, consideration should be given to worst case scenarios (i.e. low flow years) and contingency plans to deal with such conditions.

Cumulative Effects: This should consider the accumulated nutrient load over time, as well as accumulated sediment deposition, and should consider the effects of local water currents on dispersal or concentration. Wildwest should consider comparisons with chemical and sediment inputs to the lake from other sources, if information is available.

Sediment deposition: The EIA should address the question of sediment loading from fish food and feces. What will the effects be on bottom fauna and fish and what measures (e.g. moving and fallowing cage sites) to minimize the effects would be desirable or practical?

Escapes: The EIS should provide information on fish escapes, including likelihood, probable effects on the native species and on angling activity; also prevention measures, detection of holes, reporting, and recapture. This should include a Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 12 March 19, 2008 discussion of past history of escapes and the effects on angling or fish populations, if known. It is recognized that there is little, if any, hard data on this topic. Anecdotal information can be included, but should be identified as such.

Species at Risk: Identify any known occurrences of species at risk in vicinity of each site, including fish and other aquatic life, waterfowl, and terrestrial plants and animals if there is to be shoreline development related to the site.

Air Quality: Any aspect of the operation that could affect air quality should be addressed, as well as mitigation measures. This could include odours from cages, processing, or waste treatment, as well as engine exhaust and dust from feeding operations. One reviewer of the draft PSGs suggested that Cactus Bay was less attractive for recreational use due to odour from the fish farm; the EIS should include data on odours in the vicinity of the existing fish farm, including intensity, duration, direction of spread, relation to weather conditions, receptors (i.e. who is affected by the smell), comparison to other odours, and discussion of probable sources (i.e. cages, feed, effluent pond, processing facility, morts, processing waste). There should also be discussion of potential odour problems at proposed sites, with consideration that there will be no processing or effluent treatment at those sites.

Angling: It is well known that the existing cage culture operation has attracted fish to the immediate area and in turn has altered angling activity. The EIS should consider the probable effects of the new cage sites on fish schooling and angling activity; including increased access to and use of adjacent shoreline areas, reduced boat and angler access to cage locations. Random counts of shore and boat based anglers at the proposed sites during the angling season would be valuable.

Recreational activity: The EIS should describe existing recreational activity other than angling at each new site, and any effects expected from the project. What actions will be taken to minimize effects such as collisions or other impediments to navigation?

Several reviewers of the draft PSGs were concerned about the new cage sites blocking access to deep bays which have significant recreational use by sailboats, other boaters, picnickers etc, and which also can provide refuge for boats, especially sailboats, during sudden storms. If data is available, the EIS should discuss the impact that the new cage sites may have on boat access to safe havens during severe weather conditions, including the current use of the sites, the length of the season vis a vis the production year, the frequency of severe weather, etc.

Aesthetics: Many of the criticisms leveled at intensive cage culture operations in coastal settings are due to changes in aesthetics rather than alterations of physical aspects of the environment. The EIS should examine in some detail the potential impacts of the new cage sites on aesthetics, including appearance, noise, lighting etc., and how many people are likely to be affected.

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 13 March 19, 2008 Predator control. Along with attracting wild fish, cage culture operations are known to attract the attention of fish eating birds and, to some extent, mammals. What predator interactions are predicted, and how will they be avoided, prevented or mitigated?

Heritage Resources: Since the bulk of the project will be in the water, heritage resources are not likely to be affected – however, a discussion of possible impacts from shore based activities and ancillary development such as improvements to access roads (if any) is warranted.

7.2 IMPACTS TO THE PROJECT FROM THE ENVIRONMENT

Climate considerations: The EIS should provide details on, or consider, feeding schedules summer vs winter, access constraints during freeze-up and breakup, protection of cages and structures from wind and wave damage, effects of ice buildup, water temperature extremes at each of the sites.

Ice damage: In April 2000 Wildwest suffered considerable damage to the cage structures and a substantial loss of fish from the impact of a large ice sheet with the cages in Cactus Bay. What potential exists for similar collisions in each of the proposed sites, and what measures will be taken to prevent or minimize negative impacts?

Human Interaction: What impacts are expected from anglers and recreational boaters? Is vandalism likely? The Fisheries Regulations prohibit angling within 100 metres of a net pen – will there be problems or will additional SE resources be required with respect to enforcing the no fishing zone at the new sites?

Water quality: The EIS should consider the potential for impacts on the project from algae blooms, oxygen depletions, chemical flushes during spring runoff or major rain events, lightning etc. The first two topics have been covered to some extent in the first part of this section, but only insofar as the cage culture could cause them to happen. Algae and oxygen depletions are common occurrences in southern Saskatchewan waters with or without cage culture – what measures will Wildwest implement to protect against water quality problems?

Endemic fish diseases and parasites. Specific salmonid diseases are rare or absent in Saskatchewan waters. However, there are many opportunistic bacterial, viral or fungal infections which can occur to stressed fish populations. What preventative or therapeutic measures does Wildwest use or plan to use to deal with fish disease or parasites?

8.0 MONITORING REQUIREMENTS

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 14 March 19, 2008 The EIS should describe current baseline and operational monitoring which Wildwest is carrying out pursuant to their aquaculture licence and effluent works permit (note: this may have already been done in the introductory description as mentioned in section 1, above). As the principal environmental stressor is considered to be the nutrient loading to Lake Diefenbaker, the environmental monitoring will be concerned mainly with water quality testing in the vicinity of the cage sites, including “control” locations.

The EIS should include a description of Wildwest Steelhead’s proposed monitoring programs, including parameters to be sampled, locations, depths, sampling frequency and methodology as well as reporting frequency and format (i.e. hardcopy, electronic, to whom).

Future monitoring of effects should include terrestrial impacts due to site access by proponent or increased use of shoreline by anglers, or any other terrestrial impact which could be related to the development. Also, annual monitoring reports should include summaries of predator control activities.

9.0 DECOMMISSIONING AND RECLAMATION

A conceptual plan for the decommissioning and removal of all physical works should be included in the EIS. The plan should consider  Safe disposal of any hazardous materials.  Disposal, reuse or sale of equipment  Reclamation of disturbed surface land areas and, if practical, affected areas of the lake bottom  Other impacts which can be mitigated by post-decommissioning procedures  Impacts which cannot be mitigated

10.0 APPROVALS

Wildwest Steelhead should be aware that, should the proposed expansion be approved under The Environmental Assessment Act, further approvals and permits will be required. Ideally, these various approvals will be identified as part of the EIS review process; however, approval of the EIS does not guarantee that Wildwest will receive provincial or federal permits for the various aspects of the proposal. Additional information may be required by permit issuing agencies, and additional terms and conditions may be applied to the permits.

11.0 SUMMARY

The EIS should provide a concise, complete statement of the anticipated environmental costs and benefits of the proposed expansion of the Wildwest Steelhead fish farm and fish processing operation on Lake Diefenbaker.

Project Specific Guidelines for Wildwest EIS Page: 15 March 19, 2008

Figure 1. Satellite image of Lake Diefenbaker, showing existing and proposed cage culture sites.