The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has awarded a total of $141,615 to eight applicants to support their participation in the environmental review of the proposed Site C hydroelectric dam project in northeast B.C.

The funding recipients are the North Peace Rod and Gun Club, Peace Valley Environmental Association, British Columbia Women's Institute, Pembina Institute for Appropriate Development, Peace River Environmental Society, Gwen Johansson, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, and Kelly Lake Cree Nation.

The funding is provided to help recipients prepare for and participate in the upcoming steps of the review processs.

BC Hydro is proposing to construct and operate a dam and 1,100-megawatt hydroelectric generating station on the Peace River near Fort St. John, 476 kilometres north of Prince George. The proposed project would be the third in a series of dams on the Peace River and its components are an earthfill dam 1,050 metres long and 60 metres high, an 1,100-megawatt generating station and associated structures, an 83-kilometre long reservoir, realignment of four sections of Highway 29 and two 77-kilometre transmission lines along an existing transmission line right-of-way connecting Site C to Peace Canyon.

A committee independent of the review process assessed the applications and made recommendations on funding awards. The committee’s report, along with further information on the project, is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca, reference # 11-05-63919.

The funding was announced Tuesday.