Power line project adhering to requirements, proponent says
By: Carl Clutchey, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Source: The Chronicle-Journal
As it continues to build its $1.2-billion Waasigan high-voltage power line mainly west of Thunder Bay, Hydro One says it’s obligated to respond if parts of the construction are found to be not meeting environmental safeguards or other permitting requirements.
If the utility is found to be in “non-compliance,” Hydro One “would be required to both report the non-compliance and submit a plan to address it to the ministry or governing body that issued the permit or approval,” a Hydro One spokeswoman said this week in an email.
A group consisting of Shebandowan Lake campers have expressed concerns this year that mitigation measures are not being met in the area of Three Mile Bay, where Hydro One was granted a variance for its power line from an established protection plan.
The variance was granted by the Ministry of Natural Resources this spring on the condition the utility applies mitigation measures to minimize runoff into a wetland and trout fishery.
“Ongoing construction activities adhere to all permit and approval conditions, including mitigation requirements for the work in the Shebandowan Lake area,” the Hydro One spokeswoman said.
The utility says it has retained a private and “independent” company to make sure mitigation measures are applied throughout the Waasigan project “to identify non-compliance with the terms of environmental mitigation, requirements, permits and approvals.”
“For work on the Waasigan line, the Ministry of Natural Resources has visited work sites to conduct their own reviews for compliance of the work permit,” the Hydro spokeswoman aid.
“They are also able to audit Hydro One’s findings, and the findings of the independent third-parties or contractors retained by Hydro One on the project at any time,” she added.
The Ministry of Natural Resources didn’t respond to a request for comment.
The Waasigan project is a partnership between Hydro One and nine Northwestern Ontario First Nations. It has been driven by an anticipated spike in demand for electricity required by what’s believed to be an increase in new mining projects.
The power line’s first phase, a double-circuit 230-kilovolt line between Shuniah and Atikokan, is to be in service by the end of this year. Phase two, to involve a single-circuit 230-KV line between Atikokan and Dryden, is to be completed in 2027.
Hydro One says so far, it’s reached agreements with 95 per cent of impacted property owners along the route.
“Although we have obtained all necessary legal approvals for the project, we continue to engage with landowners,” the spokeswoman said.
