Proposed Northwest Transmission Line

Public open houses:

Smithers March 31, 2009 – Hudson Bay Lodge Terrace April 1, 2009 – Coast Inn of the West Stewart April 2, 2009 – Al Lawrence Memorial Arena

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Overview• About BCTC• Proposed Northwest Transmission Line (NTL)

- Overview- Route options- Right-of-way and structures

• Consultation • Environmental studies• Milestones• Questions

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About BCTC• Independent Crown Corporation

- Regulated by the BC Utilities Commission- Reports to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

• Responsible for planning, building, operating and maintaining the Province’s grid in a safe, reliable and cost-effective manner

- $5.3 billion, 10-year capital plan- Long-Term Transmission Vision (30-year road map)

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The Transmission SystemMore than 18,000 km oftransmission lines

75,000 hectares of ROW

Close to 300 stations

State of the art system control centre and backup facility

Interconnections to USAand Alberta

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Key:Red: 500kvBlue: 287 kVGreen: 230 kVDark blue: 138 kVBlack: 69 kV

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Potential NTL~ 335 km, 287 kV transmission line

Skeena substation (Terrace) to possible new substation near Bob Quinn Lake

Alternative routes being studied in some locations

~ $400 million (2007 estimate); private-public partnership

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Right of way

ROW width: 38 m

Extra one-time clearing on each side for security of line

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Possible structure types

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Potential benefits• If NTL is constructed, it could provide:

- Reliable, clean electricity supply to attract and support new industrial developments – such as mines – which could support overall economic growth

- Secure grid connection to new sources of clean electricity (IPPs)- Potential to connect communities reliant on diesel generation to a cleaner

power supply, if they wish

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Key dates to December 2007

• May 4, 2007: BCTC applied to BCEAO, requesting that NTL be accepted for review under the BC Environmental Assessment Act

• June 1, 2007: BCEAO accepted NTL for review and posted project description

• Nov 12, 2007: BCEAO issued Section 11 Order • Nov 13, 2007: BCEAO posted draft Terms of Reference (TOR)

for EA Application; public comment period startedNovember 26, 2007: NTL put on hold• Dec 5, 2007: Public comment period suspended

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Current phase of NTL • Province announces funding Sept. 26, 2008, to continue the

environmental assessment and consultation processes

• This will lead to the preparation of an Application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate

• Province seeking a partner to contribute towards construction costs

• No plans to file the Application or to construct NTL until “funding gap” is addressed

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Terms of Reference• Consultation with Nisga’a Nation, First Nations, agencies,

stakeholders and public

• Specifies studies to be conducted and information requirements to be provided in Application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate

• Assessment work has been contracted to Rescan Environmental Services Ltd., with professional and technical field assistance by First Nations and Nisga’a Nation

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Nisga’a and First Nations consultation• Led by BC Hydro’s Aboriginal Relations and Negotiations

team

• First Nations with interests in NTL, and Nisga’a Nation, are encouraged to participate throughout the planning process, environmental assessment, and other regulatory or approval processes related to NTL

• First Nations and Nisga’a Nation participation facilitated through funding

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First Nations consultation• First Nations participating in consultation process include:

- Kitselas First Nation- Kitsumkalum First Nation- Lax Kw’alaams First Nation- Metlakatla First Nation- Gitxsan - Skii km Lax Ha Nation- Tahltan - Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs

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Public consultation• Led by BCTC Community Relations. Goals:

- Provide information and receive feedback through meetings with stakeholders and public; web and email updates; and other communications materials

- Identify opportunities for public input into NTL and encourage public involvement in the EA process for NTL

• Going forward:- Continue to update and offer meetings to interested stakeholder groups- Arrange public meetings in support of EA process (e.g., during public

comment period for draft Terms of Reference)

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Study topicsMeteorology & Air QualityNoiseVisual QualitySoilsGeotechnical & Natural HazardsPhysiography & TopographyGeology & GeochemistryHydrologyHydrogeologyArchaeologyTraditional Use

Traditional KnowledgeEcosystem MappingVegetation WildlifeFisheriesAquaticsWetlandsSocio-economicsLand UsePublic HealthTransportation & Utilities

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Studies • Meteorology/Air quality:

historic and current conditions; potential impacts of weather and air quality on transmission line

• Visual quality: potential effect of project on visually sensitive areas, such as parks, communities, viewsheds, etc.

• Noise: existing noise levels and potential changes during project construction and operation

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Studies (cont’d)

• Soils: determine which soils in project area are sensitive to degradation/erosion

• Geotechnical/Natural hazards:assess terrain stability in project area (e.g., seismic, volcanic, land movement, etc.)

• Physiography/Topography: key features in area, such as mountains, watercourses, wetlands, etc.

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Studies (cont’d)

• Geology/geochemistry: characterization of representative rock types; determination of metal leaching/acid rock drainage

• Hydrology: surface water quantity conditions

• Hydrogeography:characteristics of any ground water aquifers, esp. at proposed substation and work camp sites

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Studies (cont’d)

• Vegetation and Ecosystem mapping: inventory of plant species and ecosystems

• Wildlife: habitat mapping and surveys of ungulates, grizzly bear, birds, bats, species at risk

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Studies (cont’d)

• Fisheries: fish presence and habitat quality for watercourses crossed by potential project

• Aquatics: aquatic communities and habitat in watercourses crossed by potential project

• Wetlands: types, sizes locations and functions; plant species, soil and water characteristics; reliant wildlife

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Studies (cont’d)

• Public Health: audible noise, EMF, domestic water quality/supply, country foods

• Socio-economic: community well-being – economic, services, employment, infrastructure, etc.

• Land use: forestry, mining, traplines, fishing/angling, guide-outfitting, tourism, residential, etc.

• Transportation, Utilities air, land and water transportation corridors; utilities (gas, electric, sewers, etc.)

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Studies (cont’d)• Archaeology: archaeological

overview assessment; based on AOA determine if archaeological impact assessment required in any portion of study area

• Traditional Knowledge & Use:First Nations with traditional territory in proposed project area hold unique knowledge

• Nisga’a Nation rights and interests: Nisga’a Nation has unique knowledge of Nisga’a lands, Nass area and Nass wildlife area

• BCTC working with First Nationsand Nisga’a Nation to support community-directed studies

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Environmental Management Program

• BCTC Construction Environmental Management Plans and Operational Environmental Management Programs

- Construction EMPs describe the environmental practices and procedures to be applied during the construction of the project

- Operational EM Programs include existing provincial procedures, systems, principles and plans applied during operations and which may be periodically updated

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Upcoming milestones

• June 2009: Finalize TOR; complete studies and effects assessments

• Sept 2009: Application for EA Certificate ready for filing

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BCTC Project Delivery Team

PM(Tim Jennings)

BCTCSteering Committee

(David Emerson, Doug Little, John Irving, Bruce Barrett, Julius Pataky,

Janet Woodruff)

NTL ProjectOrganization Chart

Community Relations

(Lesley Wood)

Environmental Consultant

(Rescan – Rolf Schmitt)

Properties(BCH - Sharon

Szameit)

FN’s(BCH ARN –

Jeremy Higham)

BCTC System Planning

(Phil Park)

BCH Engineering(Pat Siega)

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QUESTIONS?