Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment TERMS OF REFERENCE Webequie First Nation Prepared by: Prepared for: Submitted to: SNC-Lavalin Inc. Webequie First Nation Ministry of the Environment, 195 The West Mall Conservation and Parks Toronto, Ontario, M9C 5K1 www.snclavalin.com August 2020 661910 WSR240-SNC-PR-RT-0002 SNC-Submission ToR for Review-2020-08-12 Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference Table of Contents Acronyms and Abbreviations ..................................................................... vii 1 Introduction ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 Proponent ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Proponent Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Project Background and Context ................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Purpose and Rationale for the Undertaking and Study ................................................................. 6 1.4.1 Purpose of the Undertaking ................................................................................................... 6 1.4.2 Rationale for the Undertaking ................................................................................................ 7 1.5 Outline of Terms of Reference (ToR) ............................................................................................ 9 2 Regulatory Framework for the Project .............................................. 11 2.1 Regulatory Framework ................................................................................................................ 11 2.1.1 Ontario Environmental Assessment Act .............................................................................. 11 2.1.2 Canada Impact Assessment Act .......................................................................................... 12 2.1.3 Process for Federal-Provincial Coordinated EA .................................................................. 13 2.1.4 Other Relevant Federal Legislation and Permits ................................................................. 14 2.1.5 Other Relevant Provincial Legislation and Permits .............................................................. 15 3 Approach for Preparation of the Environmental Assessment ........... 19 3.1 Environmental Assessment Principles ........................................................................................ 19 3.2 Indication of How the Environmental Assessment is to be Prepared .......................................... 19 4 Description of the Undertaking ......................................................... 23 4.1 Design Considerations and Criteria ............................................................................................. 25 4.1.1 Preliminary Design Criteria .................................................................................................. 25 4.2 Components and Activities of the Project .................................................................................... 26 4.3 Project Phases ............................................................................................................................. 27 4.3.1 Construction Phase .............................................................................................................. 27 4.3.2 Operations Phase ................................................................................................................ 28 4.3.3 Decommissioning Phase ..................................................................................................... 29 4.3.4 Project Phasing Schedule .................................................................................................... 29 661910 August 2020 i . Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference 5 Description of and Rationale for Alternatives ................................... 31 5.1 Range of Alternatives Considered ............................................................................................... 31 5.1.1 Alternatives to the Undertaking ............................................................................................ 31 5.1.1.1 Alternative 1: Do Nothing – Null Alternative ................................................................. 33 5.1.1.2 Alternative 2: Upgrade Existing Trail System to Seasonal Winter Road ..................... 33 5.1.1.3 Alternative 3: Alternative Modes of Transportation ...................................................... 34 5.1.1.4 Alternative 4: Manage Transportation Demand ........................................................... 38 5.1.1.5 Alternative 5: New All-Season Road ............................................................................ 38 5.1.1.6 Preferred Planning Alternative ..................................................................................... 38 5.1.2 Alternative Methods of Carrying Out the Undertaking ......................................................... 40 5.1.2.1 Background and Context .............................................................................................. 40 5.1.2.2 Alternative Supply Road Corridors ............................................................................... 43 5.1.2.3 Initial Identification of Webequie Supply Road Corridor Alternative Concepts ............ 44 5.2 Initial Screening of Webequie Supply Road Corridor Alternative Concepts ................................ 53 5.3 Rationale for the Preferred Corridor Alternative .......................................................................... 66 5.4 Development of Routing Sub-Alternatives within Preferred Supply Road Corridor .................... 66 5.4.1 Initial Geotechnical Assessment - Terrain Mapping ............................................................ 66 5.4.1.1 Routing Considerations ................................................................................................ 67 5.4.1.2 Alternative Routes ........................................................................................................ 67 5.4.1.3 Optimal Geotechnical Route ........................................................................................ 69 5.5 Project Infrastructure Alternatives ............................................................................................... 71 5.5.1 Construction Camps ............................................................................................................ 71 5.5.2 Aggregate Source Locations and Access Roads ................................................................ 73 5.6 Alternative Methods Carried Forward for Environmental Assessment ........................................ 73 5.6.1 Webequie Supply Road Alternatives ................................................................................... 73 5.6.2 Project Infrastructure Alternatives ........................................................................................ 74 6 Existing Environmental Conditions ................................................... 76 6.1 General Environmental Setting .................................................................................................... 76 6.2 Natural Environment .................................................................................................................... 79 6.2.1 Geology, Terrain and Soils .................................................................................................. 79 6.2.2 Groundwater and Surface Water ......................................................................................... 80 6.2.3 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ................................................................................................. 80 6.2.4 Vegetation ............................................................................................................................ 84 6.2.5 Fish and Fish Habitat ........................................................................................................... 87 661910 August 2020 ii . Webequie Supply Road Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference 6.2.6 Species at Risk .................................................................................................................... 89 6.2.7 Climate ................................................................................................................................. 97 6.2.8 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................. 97 6.2.9 Acoustic Environment .......................................................................................................... 97 6.3 Socio-Economic Environment ..................................................................................................... 97 6.3.1 Regional Planning/Policy Initiatives ..................................................................................... 97 6.3.2 Economy, Resources, Commercial and Industrial Activities ............................................... 99 6.3.3 Population, Demographics and Community Profile ............................................................. 99 6.3.4 Human Health .................................................................................................................... 100 6.3.5 Infrastructure