Project Description Project 4 - All-Season Road Connecting Berens River to Poplar River First Nation Prepared for: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship Submitted by: Manitoba Floodway & East Side Road Authority November 2014 Table of Contents Page Table of Contents iii List of Figures v List of Photos v List of Maps vi List of Attachments vi 1 GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONTACTS ............................................................................. 7 1.1 Nature of the Project and Proposed Location .............................................................. 7 1.2 Proponent Information ................................................................................................. 7 1.2.1 Name of the Project ........................................................................................ 7 1.2.2 Name of the Proponent ................................................................................... 8 1.2.3 Address of the Proponent ............................................................................... 8 1.2.4 Chief Executive Officer .................................................................................... 8 1.2.5 Principal Contact Person ................................................................................. 8 1.3 Jurisdictions and Other Parties Consulted .................................................................... 9 1.4 Environmental Assessment Requirements ................................................................. 10 1.4.1 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (Canada) ........................... 10 1.4.2 The Environment Act (Manitoba) .................................................................. 10 1.4.3 Canada‐Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation 10 1.5 Regulatory Requirements ........................................................................................... 10 1.6 Regional planning context .......................................................................................... 11 2 PROJECT INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Project Overview ......................................................................................................... 12 2.2 Provisions of Regulations Designating Physical Activities .......................................... 13 2.3 Project Components and Activities ............................................................................. 13 2.3.1 Physical Works Associated with the Designated Project .............................. 13 2.3.2 Anticipated Size and Capacity of the Designated Project ............................. 13 2.3.3 Project Components that are Expansions ..................................................... 14 2.3.4 Activities Incidental to the Designated Project ............................................. 14 2.4 Emissions, Discharges and Wastes ............................................................................. 14 2.4.1 Atmospheric contaminant emissions ............................................................ 14 2.4.2 Liquid Discharges ........................................................................................... 15 ii 2.4.3 Types of Waste and Disposal plans ............................................................... 15 2.5 Project Phases and Scheduling ................................................................................... 15 2.5.1 Anticipated Scheduling .................................................................................. 15 2.5.2 Main activities in each phase of the designated project .............................. 16 2.5.3 Planning and Design ...................................................................................... 16 2.5.4 Pre‐Construction ........................................................................................... 16 2.5.5 Construction .................................................................................................. 17 2.5.6 Operation and Maintenance ......................................................................... 19 3 PROJECT LOCATION ............................................................................................................. 19 3.1 Location Description ................................................................................................... 19 3.2 Coordinates ................................................................................................................. 20 3.3 Site Map/Plan .............................................................................................................. 20 3.3.1 Detailed Site Maps ........................................................................................ 20 3.3.2 Photographs of Work Locations .................................................................... 21 3.3.3 Proximities ..................................................................................................... 21 3.4 Land and Water Use .................................................................................................... 22 3.4.1 Zoning Designations ...................................................................................... 22 3.4.2 Legal Description ........................................................................................... 23 3.4.3 Land/Water Use, Resource Management and Conservation Plans .............. 23 3.4.4 Lands/Resources Used for Traditional Purposes .......................................... 24 4 FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT ...................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Financial Support ........................................................................................................ 25 4.2 Federal Land ................................................................................................................ 25 4.3 Regulatory Requirements ........................................................................................... 26 4.3.1 Explosives Act ................................................................................................ 26 4.3.2 Navigation Protection Act ............................................................................. 26 4.3.3 Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 .......................................................... 26 4.3.4 Fisheries Act .................................................................................................. 26 4.3.5 Indian Act ....................................................................................................... 26 4.3.6 Crown Lands Act (Manitoba) ......................................................................... 26 4.3.7 Mines and Minerals Act (Manitoba) ............................................................. 26 4.3.8 Other (Manitoba) .......................................................................................... 27 iii 5 ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION .......................................................................................... 27 5.1 Biophysical Setting ...................................................................................................... 27 5.1.1 Climate and Air Quality ................................................................................. 27 5.1.2 Physiography and Surficial Geology .............................................................. 27 5.1.3 Vegetation and Forest Cover ......................................................................... 28 5.1.4 Surface Water ................................................................................................ 28 5.1.5 Groundwater ................................................................................................. 29 5.1.6 Fish and Fish Habitat ..................................................................................... 29 5.1.7 Mammals ....................................................................................................... 30 5.1.8 Birds ............................................................................................................... 31 5.1.9 Amphibians and Reptiles ............................................................................... 32 5.1.10 Species of Conservation Concern .................................................................. 32 5.2 Potential Changes in the Environment ....................................................................... 34 5.2.1 Fish and Fish Habitat ..................................................................................... 35 5.2.2 Marine Plants ................................................................................................ 35 5.2.3 Migratory Birds .............................................................................................. 35 5.3 Potential Changes on Federal and Adjacent Lands .................................................... 36 5.4 Potential Effects on Aboriginal Peoples of Changes to the Environment .................. 36 6 Engagement & Consultation with Aboriginal groups .......................................................... 37 6.1 Interested and Potentially Affected Aboriginal Groups ............................................. 39 6.1.1 First Nations ................................................................................................... 40 6.1.2 Other Aboriginal ............................................................................................ 40 6.2