TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMENTS on the Environmental Impact Statement Premier Horticulture Pasquia Bog Peat Harvest 50 km NE of Hudson Bay, SK Prepared by Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment Environmental Assessment Branch December 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface .................................................................................................................... 1 1. Environmental Assessment and Review Process .......................................... 2 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 2 Submission of the Environmental Impact Statement ...................................... 2 Technical Review ............................................................................................ 3 Public Review .................................................................................................. 3 Ministerial Decision ........................................................................................ 4 2. Summary of Proposed Project ...................................................................... 4 Alternatives Considered .................................................................................. 5 3. Technical Review Comments .......................................................................... 5 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 5 Biophysical Considerations ............................................................................. 6 Water .......................................................................................................... 8 Air Quality ................................................................................................. 8 Effects of the Environment ...................................................................... 8 Heritage Resources .......................................................................................... 9 Socio-Economic Considerations ...................................................................... 9 Decommissioning, Reclamation and Abandonment Plan ............................... 9 Public, First Nations and Métis Engagement .................................................. 9 Traditional Land Use Considerations ............................................................ 10 4. Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 10 Invitation to Comment ................................................................................... 11 Contact ........................................................................................................... 11 i Technical Review Comments Premier Horticulture – Pasquia Bog Peat Harvest Project Preface This document is provided by the Environmental Assessment Branch of Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment (EAB) as supporting information for the public review of Premier Horticulture’s (Premier) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Pasquia Bog Peat Harvest Project (the Project). The Project is located approximately 50 km northeast of Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan and 20 km east of Hwy 9 in east central Saskatchewan. The proponent is proposing the extraction of horticultural peat from a series of peat bogs totaling 1880 ha, which will support 80 years of production. This document has four major parts: The first part provides an overview of the provincial environmental assessment and review process. It outlines the events and activities that led to the EIS being released for public review and describes how the public can provide comments to the Minister of Saskatchewan, through the Ministry of Environment, on the proponent’s proposed Project. The second part provides a brief summary of the Project. This summary is intended to provide information to assist the reader in deciding whether they are interested in finding out more about the Project. It is not intended to be a full representation of the Project. Interested readers should visit a review centre to read the EIS for the Project (locations are listed in section 2 and section 4). The third section of the document provides the Ministry of Environment’s evaluation of the proponent’s conclusions regarding the predicted impacts of the proposed Project, the effectiveness of any identified mitigative measures and any follow-up requirements that would be placed on the proponent by the Minister, should the Project be approved. Section 4 presents the conclusions reached by the Ministry of Environment and invites the public to comment. The Minister, when making the final decision regarding the environmental acceptability of the proposed Project, considers both the public’s comments and Technical Review Comments (TRC). 1 December 2012 Technical Review Comments Premier Horticulture – Pasquia Bog Peat Harvest Project 1. Environmental Assessment and Review Process Introduction The Environmental Assessment Act (the Act) in Saskatchewan requires the proponents of a “development” to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The EIA provides the information needed by the Minister responsible for the Act (Minister of Environment) to determine whether, from an environmental perspective, a proposed development should be allowed to proceed and, if so, under what conditions. As part of the environmental assessment process, the proponent is required to prepare an EIS that documents the proponent’s assessment and conclusions on the potential environmental effects of the proposed Project. The EIS also describes the measures the proponent plans to take to reduce negative and enhance positive environmental impacts. Once completed, the EIS undergoes both a technical and public review prior to a decision being made by the Minister regarding the Project. The EAB review The purpose of the environmental assessment and review process is to ensure process that adequate environmental safeguards are in place before a development is provides a broad allowed to proceed and that a development proceeds in a manner understood understanding of and broadly accepted by the public. These safeguards may arise out of the the potential impacts and actual design and nature of the proposed development or, should the ways to development receive approval under the Act, as a result of ongoing regulatory minimize the involvement by government agencies. impacts of a project. In addition to the Act, environmental legislation and regulation applicable to this project include The Environmental Management and Protection Act, 2002 and regulations (The Mineral Industry Environmental Protection Regulations, 1996). Other provincial and federal agencies also have legislation and regulations which may be applicable to the project. Submission of the Environmental Impact Statement In September 2009, the Environmental Assessment Branch (EAB) received a project proposal from the proponent for the Project. The proposal was sent to provincial agencies and the Government of Canada for technical review. Following technical review, the Project was declared a development under section 2(d) of the Act and the proponent was asked to submit an EIS for the Project. The EAB developed project-specific guidelines to assist the proponent in the development of the EIS. 2 December 2012 Technical Review Comments Premier Horticulture – Pasquia Bog Peat Harvest Project Technical Review Technical review The EIS was received by the EAB in July 2012. The document was reviewed by provides the provincial and federal agencies to ensure that potential environmental issues had government been identified and adequately dealt with. The initial technical review perspective on the proposed identified a couple of significant environmental or technical issues (Type I development. concerns), which the proponent was required to resolve prior to initiating the public review of the EIS as well as additional information to be requested from the proponent that would add to the quality and accuracy of the EIS and provide additional information around regulatory approvals. An addendum to the draft EIS was received October 23, 2012 to provide responses to the Type I concerns and additional clarification for the other issues was received on November 7, 2012. The final TRCs have been prepared pursuant to section 11 of the Act, and are to assist the public and government decision-makers in their review of the EIS. The comments, starting on page 5, represent a summary evaluation of the proponent’s EIS. In preparing TRCs, the Ministry of Environment focuses on those factors that are considered to be of primary significance with respect to the proposed Project and the environment in the area of the Project. Public Review Pursuant to section 12 of the Act, both the EIS and TRC are made available for public inspection for a period of not less than thirty (30) days. During the 30 day review period, members of the public may make written submissions to the Minister of Environment regarding the EIS. The EIS and the TRCs are being made available for review in electronic format at public libraries in Saskatoon and Regina; in hard copy at the Legislative Library in Regina; at the offices of the Towns of Carrot River, Nipawin and Hudson Bay; the Band offices of the Red Earth First Nation; Shoal Lake First Nation; Yellow Quill First Nation; Keeseekoose First Nation; Key First Nation; Kinistin First Nation; Fishing Lake First Nation; James Smith Cree Nation; Opaskwayak First Nation in The Pas MB; the administrative