The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency released its report on B.C. Hydro's proposed Site C dam Thursday afternoon.
A Joint Review Panel reviewed the project and has made 50 recommendations to the provincial and federal governments, which will make the final decision to approve or deny environmental approval for the project.
In its summary of the 457-page report, the panel neither suggested approval or denial of the proposed 1,100 megawatt dam. If approved, the dam would be located on the Peace River seven kilometres southwest of Fort St. John and downstream from the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Peace Canyon Dam.
"The panel's mandate required it to weigh both sides, and to present a balance sheet, accounting for its associated recommendations, to allow elected provincial and federal governments to determine if the benefits justify the costs. The decision on whether the Project proceeds is made by elected officials, not by the panel," the panel wrote.
The proposed dam has clear benefits in the form of long-term, sustainable power, the panel concluded. However the the project has a high capital cost that means it may take some time for the public investment to be repaid -unlike smaller power projects that could be developed as needed over time.
In addition, there are environmental impacts and impacts on traditional use of the land that can only be partially mitigated, the panel wrote.
"Replacing a portion of the Peace River with an 83-kilometre reservoir would cause significant adverse effects on fish and fish habitat, and a number of birds and bats, smaller vertebrate and invertebrate species, rare plants, and sensitive ecosystems," the panel wrote. "The project would significantly affect the current use of land and resources for traditional purposes by Aboriginal peoples, and the effect of that on Aboriginal rights and treaty rights generally will have to be weighed by governments."
However, the panel largely accepted B.C. Hydro's proposed mitigation measures for the project.
The provincial Crown utility first applied for a Joint Review Panel hearing for the project in September, 2011. Public consultation began in 2012, with official hearings running from December 2013 and early this year.
The Joint Review Panel completed its report and presented it to the federal Ministry of Environment and B.C. Environmental Assessment Agency on May 1.
The report can be found online here: http://pgc.cc/1ouSPLl
