FOR PUBLIC COMMENT DRAFT PROJECT-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND COMPREHENSIVE STUDY SCOPING DOCUMENT For the proposed Little Bow Reservoir Rehabilitation and Upgrading Project Alberta Transportation and Alberta Environment Prepared by: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Fisheries and Oceans Canada Transport Canada CEA Registry Reference Number: 09-01-49421 November 2010 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................... 4 1.1 General Information on the Draft Project-Specific Guidelines and Scoping Document ................... 5 1.2 Summary of the Project.................................................................................................................... 6 1.2.1 Physical Works...........................................................................................................................................7 1.2.2 Operating Regime.......................................................................................................................................8 2.0 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS ....................................................... 8 2.1 Requirement for a Federal Environmental Assessment................................................................... 8 2.2 Overview of the Comprehensive Study Environmental Assessment Process ............................... 10 2.3 Role of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency............................................................ 10 2.4 Role of Responsible and Federal Authorities................................................................................. 11 3.0 PROPOSED SCOPE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT....................... 11 3.1 Proposed Scope of the Project for the Purposes of the Environmental Assessment .................... 12 3.2 Factors Proposed to be considered in the Comprehensive Study ................................................. 13 3.3 Proposed Scope of the Factors to be Considered ......................................................................... 14 3.3.1 Biophysical Environment .........................................................................................................................15 3.3.2 Socio-Economic and Cultural Environments............................................................................................15 3.3.3 Valued Ecosystem Component.................................................................................................................15 3.3.4 Spatial and Temporal Boundaries.............................................................................................................15 4.0 PROJECT-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES....................................................................... 16 4.1 EIS Executive Summary................................................................................................................. 16 5.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION...................................................................................... 17 5.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 17 5.2 Project Phases ...............................................................................................................................18 5.2.1 Construction .............................................................................................................................................18 5.2.2 Operation and Maintenance......................................................................................................................18 5.3 Alternative Means of Carrying out the Project................................................................................ 19 5.4 Accidents and Malfunctions............................................................................................................ 19 6.0 DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING ENVIRONMENT..................................................... 19 6.1 Physical Environment..................................................................................................................... 20 6.1.1 Climate, Meteorology and Air Quality .....................................................................................................20 6.1.2 Terrain, Soils and Geology.......................................................................................................................20 6.1.3 Surface Hydrology....................................................................................................................................20 6.1.4 Noise.........................................................................................................................................................21 6.2 Aquatic Environment ...................................................................................................................... 21 6.2.1 Water Quality ...........................................................................................................................................21 6.2.2 Lower Trophic Levels and Aquatic Invertebrates.....................................................................................21 6.2.3 Fish and Fish Habitat................................................................................................................................21 6.3 Terrestrial Environment.................................................................................................................. 22 6.3.1 Vegetation and Plant Communities ..........................................................................................................23 6.3.2 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ...................................................................................................................23 6.4 Socio-Economic Environment ........................................................................................................ 24 6.4.1 Land and Resource Use ............................................................................................................................24 6.4.2 Heritage and Archaeological Resources ...................................................................................................24 ii 7.0 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION ....................... 25 7.1 Assessment Methodology .............................................................................................................. 25 7.2 Project-Specific Effects .................................................................................................................. 25 7.2.1 Physical Environment...............................................................................................................................26 7.2.2 Aquatic Environment................................................................................................................................26 7.2.3 Terrestrial Environment............................................................................................................................27 7.2.4 Species at Risk..........................................................................................................................................29 7.2.5 Socio-Economic Environment..................................................................................................................29 7.2.6 Navigable Waters .....................................................................................................................................30 7.3 Effects of the Environment on the Project...................................................................................... 30 7.4 Cumulative Effects ......................................................................................................................... 31 7.5 Effects on the Capacity of Renewable and Non-renewable Resources......................................... 32 7.6 Mitigation and Contingency Planning............................................................................................. 32 7.7 Significance of Residual Adverse Environmental Effects............................................................... 33 7.8 Sources of Information ................................................................................................................... 33 8.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING......................................................................... 34 9.0 FOLLOW-UP .......................................................................................................... 35 10.0 REPORT FORMAT ............................................................................................... 35 11.0 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION .................................................................................... 35 11.1 Ability of the Comprehensive Study to Address the Issues............................................................ 35 11.2 Submission of Public Comments on the PSG&S document .......................................................... 36 11.3 Further Opportunities for Public Involvement................................................................................. 37 11.4 Participant Funding Program.......................................................................................................... 37 11.5 Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry ............................................................................. 37 iii 1.0 INTRODUCTION Alberta Transportation and Alberta Environment (the proponent)