DETAILED IMPACT ANALYSIS Jasper Interconnection Project Internal Project File No: J14-067 Prepared for ATCO Electric Ltd. Version 3.0 June 2017 CH2M HILL Canada Limited 540 12 Ave SW Calgary, AB T2R 0H4 CA (403) 407-6000 (403) 407-6001 Executive Summary Introduction and Project Description ATCO Electric Ltd. (ATCO Electric) is proposing to construct and operate the ATCO Electric Jasper Interconnection Project (the Project), which will connect Jasper National Park (JNP) with the Alberta Interconnected Electric System (AIES). The current electrical generation network for JNP is nearing the end of its operational life, and ATCO Electric is proposing to construct a new 69-kilovolt (kV) single-circuit transmission line (to be designated 6L530) spanning approximately 44.7 kilometre (km) from Jasper, Alberta to an AIES interconnection point at the JNP boundary at SW 14-49-27 W5M (see Figure ES-1). As part of the Project, ATCO Electric intends to construct the Sheridan Substation 2085S (Substation) located within the existing Palisades Thermal Generating Station (Palisades) site at NW 2-46-1 W6M. When the substation is commissioned, ATCO Electric will decommission Palisades. Regulatory Framework The following subsections provide information on the regulatory context for the Project within JNP. Canada National Parks Act In JNP, this Project is allowable under Section 38(a) of the National Parks General Regulations, whereby the Minister may enter into an agreement for the development, operation and maintenance in the Park of electrical services for use only in the Park. As part of decommissioning of Palisades, ATCO Electric will reduce the current fence line to a smaller area around the substation. Under Section 15(2) of the Canada National Parks Act, lands outside the new reduced fence line will revert to the Crown. In addition, the Project will require a development permit and other authorizations under the Canada National Parks Act. Canadian Environmental Assessment Act The Project is not considered a ‘designated project’ under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 as per the Regulations Designating Physical Activities. Parks Canada Agency is the responsible authority for assessing the Project in accordance with Section 67 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012. The Project is assessed in accordance with Parks Canada Directive on Impact Assessment, 2015 which prescribes that projects involving the expansion of regional or community power supply, power lines, pipelines, or other regional utilities infrastructure are subject to a DIA. Alberta Hydro and Electric Energy Act ATCO Electric is additionally applying to the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) pursuant to the Hydro and Electric Energy Act, for permits to construct and licenses to operate the Project. Project Components The Project will consist of one 69-kV single-circuit transmission line (to be designated as 6L530), approximately 44.7 km in length. The proposed transmission line will depart from the JNP east boundary and continue west to the proposed Sheridan Substation 2085S located within the Palisades site. Table ES-1 provides information on the transmission line and substation. PR0301171147CGY CH2M HILL CANADA LIMITED • COMPANY PROPRIETARY ES-1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Table ES-1. 6L530 Transmission Line Details Typical Span Typical Structure Typical Nominal Voltage Number of Electrical Circuits Between Height Right-of-Way Width Structures Typical Conventional/Insulated 69-kV Single-Pole Structure 69-kV 1 – 2 13 – 20 m 95 – 150 m 10 m in total Typical 69-kV Conventional H-Frame Structure 69-kV 1 – 2 15 – 23 m 200 – 250 m varies m = metre Route Selection ATCO Electric’s route selection process started with identifying the Project area that accounted for large scale geographic, environmental, and social constraints. The Project area is bound by the Athabasca River Valley entering JNP from the north, terminating at Palisades to the south. ATCO Electric selected the route along existing corridors such as roads, distribution corridors, and pipeline corridors in order to make use of better access, straighter alignments, and potential right-of-way abutment to reduce new clearing. The preferred route selection combines linear disturbances and shares seasonal access. The proposed route has been routed adjacent to existing disturbance for 44.1 km of its 44.7 km total length (99 percent). Existing linear disturbance includes the Highway 16, Snaring Road, Celestine Lake Road, Canadian National Railway, Kinder Morgan Canada Inc. Trans Mountain Pipeline and TMX Anchor Loop Project pipeline rights-of-way, ATCO Pipelines, and existing distribution line rights-of-way. ATCO Electric, in collaboration with Parks Canada will continue to conduct public and Indigenous consultation prior to project approval. Routing opportunities presented by stakeholders will be evaluated and may result in alterations where significant benefits to the Project would be achieved. Right-of-Way and Temporary Workspace The 6L530 transmission line will have a typical width of 10 m, total Footprint of the proposed right-of-way is approximately 46.1 hectares (ha). Temporary facilities will be required during the construction phase of the Project including laydown areas, temporary workspace and access roads. ATCO Electric has identified several temporary workspace areas (occupying approximately 7.9 ha) and four laydown sites in the Pocahontas, Devona, and Snaring areas, and the Palisades site (occupying approximately 7.6 ha). ATCO Electric has located laydown sites, temporary workspace and access roads in previously disturbed areas to the extent practical. The total Footprint size is approximately 61.9 ha and includes the proposed route, laydown yards, temporary workspace, and the Sheridan Substation. Workforce ATCO Electric estimates a maximum of 150 workers during peak construction of the transmission line and substation. In addition, 25 workers are anticipated for the decommissioning of Palisades. ATCO Electric will be accommodating the workforce in either Jasper or Hinton, Alberta. ES-2 CH2M HILL CANADA LIMITED • COMPANY PROPRIETARY PR0301171147CGY R 2 W6M R 1 W6M R 28 W5M R 27 W5M R 26 W5M Rock Lake - Solomon Creek Wildland Park Transmission Line Tie-in (! Talbot Lake UV16 Jasper National Park Jasper Palisades Generating Station 781S !( ^_Sheridan Substation 2085S Pyramid Lake Jasper UV93 R 2 W6M R 1 W6M R 28 W5M R 27 W5M R 26 W5M Proposed Route Watercourse FIGURE ES-1 UV892 Highway Waterbody PROJECT OVERVIEW Project Road Park/Protected Area SCALE: 1:150,000 Area km JASPER INTERCONNECTION PROJECT Railway 012345 Edmonton (All Locations Approximate) UTM Zone 11N June 2017 660380 Hillshade: TERA 2008; Alberta Township System: AltaLIS 2009; Roads: NRCan 2015; Railways: NRCan 2012; Watercourse, Waterbody: IHS Inc. 2004; Parks/Protected Areas: NRCan 2016, ATPR 2012; Jasper: NRCan 2003; Generating Station, Substation, Proposed Route: ATCO Electric Ltd. 2016. Calgary Although there is no reason to believe that there are any errors associated with the data used to generate this product or in the product itself, users of these data are advised that errors in the data may be present. Mapped By: JDR Checked By: MB \\ch2mhill\common\Shares\CNR\GIS_Proj2\VECA\660380\MAP_FILES\OVERVIEW\t660380_OV_ES_Rev00_20170530.mxd EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Decommissioning At the time of decommissioning the Project, it is expected that ATCO Electric will review and consider current options, issues, and regulatory requirements in consultation with stakeholders and regulatory authorities having an interest in the proposed works. Decommissioning of the Palisades power plant for the construction of the Sheridan Substation is considered part of the construction phase. Public and Indigenous Engagement ATCO Electric is required to undertake comprehensive Public and Indigenous Engagement program for the Jasper Interconnection Project and the DIA for review and approval by Parks Canada. To date public and Indigenous engagement has included information sessions with interested groups, attendance at a Jasper Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting, Project introduction at the Jasper Indigenous forum, newspaper articles and a public review and comment period for the DIA. ATCO Electric has considered and responded to the degree reasonably possible, the feedback received from the public and Indigenous groups which has led refinements of the Project (adjustments to Project Footprint, timing of construction, mitigation measures). The Project refinements and additional mitigation measures are reflected in this final version of the DIA submitted to Parks Canada. Effects Assessment Landform and Soils Existing landform and soils conditions within the Landforms and Soils Study Area (SA) (as defined in Section 5.21.1.) were determined though desktop review and field surveys. Soil mapping within the SA identified five soil orders within the Montane Natural Subregion and Subalpine Natural Subregion: brunisolic; luvisolic; regosolic; gleysolic; and organic. Permafrost is not expected to occur in soils located within the Project Footprint. Several ecological land classifications are crossed by the Project Footprint which describe typical terrain and soil relationships for defined ecosite types and their associated potential soil constraints, these are described further in Section 5.1. Soil characteristic and constraints were confirmed during the 2015 field surveys. The effects assessment for Landforms and Soils considered the following potential effects,