Environmental assessment to continue on Glacier/Howser
By Nelson Daily Editor
By Timothy Schafer, The Nelson Daily
The environmental assessment process for the proposed Glacier/Howser Power Project will still be going ahead, despite the project proponent’s power sales agreement with BC Hydro being cancelled recently.
Kathy Eichenberger, BC Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) project assessment director for the Glacier/Howser case, said the BC Hydro decision to pull the agreement Friday from Montreal-based Axor Inc. is unrelated to the environmental assessment process being conducted by the EAO.
“The proponent has told us they still wish to complete the (environmental assessment) in the event there is a future call for clean power,” she said.
“It may have some influence on the proponent’s business decision … but it doesn’t directly relate to the assessment.”
On Sept. 2, 2009 the environmental assessment process was suspended because there was a lack of information on the potential effects on bull trout — with 87 days left in the 180-day environmental assessment.
In July, the EAO received supplementary information from the proponent. However, the information was reviewed by the EAO’s technical working group and further questions arose.
“The proponent is looking at providing response for further clarification to respond to questions and comments from the working group,” Eichenberger said. “The proponent hasn’t said when they would get back to us with the clarification.”
When Axor replies, and they have answered all of the questions, then the EAO will decide to resume the legal timeline for the environmental assessment.
Simi Heer, media spokesperson for BC Hydro, confirmed BC Hydro had cancelled the 2006 active purchasing agreement with Axor.
She could not confirm the reasons for the decision, nor when it was made. There was no announcement made on the contract, she said, but media began phoning Friday about the state of the contract.
“We can’t share personal details because of the confidentiality agreement,” she said. “It’s no longer active.”
Axor has intimated that they lost the contract because they did not meet deadlines for completion of the project, but also because the price is no longer viable for the company.
editor@thenelsondaily.com
Background
Glacier and Howser creeks, which run from high in the Selkirk Mountains near Meadow Creek to the Duncan Lake Reservoir, have been the subject of plans for two independent power projects by Montreal-based Axor Inc.
As currently planned the project would involve about 16 kilometres of 4.5-metre diameter tunnels bored through the mountainsides to collect water diverted from five creeks.
The project would also involve a 92-kilometres transmission line stretched across the mountain range, carrying the power produced to a substation near Invermere in the East Kootenay.
A protest with over 1,000 area residents was held at a public meeting in Kaslo in 2009, and has been a rallying cry for many who oppose the project.
