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11 December 2008
The
federal Environmental Assessment (EA) Decision from Natural Resources
Canada (NRCan) and Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) for the Wolfe
Island Wind Project was issued on 11 December 2008. The
Notice of Decision has been
posted on the federal EA registry.
The
federal EA process for the Wolfe Island Wind Project has been ongoing
since 2005, when the Project was still in its initial design phases.
Since then, the process has included contributions from numerous staff from multiple
agencies including, but not limited to: NRCan, CSC, Environment Canada,
Canadian Wildlife Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Transport
Canada – Marine, Transport Canada – Aviation, NAVCanada, Indian and
Northern Affairs Canada, Health Canada, Parks Canada, Canadian
Broadcasting Corporation, and St. Lawrence Seaway Management
Corporation.
The
Post-Construction Follow-Up Plan for Bird and Bat Resources has also
been advanced through the federal EA process; and forms an important
aspect to this EA Decision. While potential mortality and disturbance
effects are anticipated to be low, the plan was derived in part given
the unique characteristics of Wolfe Island as an Important Bird Area and
is among the first of its kind in Canada. The Plan outlines the various
post-construction monitoring activities that will be completed by CREC
as well as contains provisions for various adaptive management responses
should significant unanticipated events occur. For continued reference
the Plan can be viewed on the project website at:
http://www.canhydro.com/projects/wolfeislandwind/project_docs/WolfeIsland_PCFP_25Nov2008.doc.pdf.
We
commend all stakeholders, public and private, for their participation
and contributions to this important Decision for Wolfe Island. The work
undertaken during the EA process, both at the federal and provincial
levels, has been rigorous and transparent. At Canadian Hydro, we pride
ourselves in our ability to not only meet the requirements of the
agencies, but exceed them wherever practicable. This Decision is the
result of comprehensive and engaging review processes, carried out over
several years, and demonstrates the commitment to getting this Project
right.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Wolfe
Island Wind Project
Post Construction
Follow-Up Plan: Bird and Bat Resources
Stakeholder Input Sought
Canadian Hydro
Developers, Inc. (“Canadian Hydro”), through its wholly owned subsidiary
Canadian Renewable Energy Corporation, is developing the 197.8 MW wind
plant on Wolfe Island. Development of the Project follows Canadian
Hydro’s multi-year work to satisfy the requirements of Ontario’s
Environmental Assessment Act (“Ontario EAA”) and ongoing efforts
under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (“Canadian EAA”).
As part of the
commitments made in gaining environmental approvals for the Project,
Canadian Hydro has completed a final draft of the
Post Construction Follow-up Plan (“the Plan”) for bird and bat
resources. The Plan has been developed according to the findings and
public input included within the Project’s environmental reports.
Canadian Hydro has actively engaged Environment Canada, Ontario Ministry
of Natural Resources, Natural Resources Canada, and Ducks Unlimited
Canada in the development of this Plan. This Plan was developed in
consideration of the unique features of Wolfe Island and has been
designed to achieve all of the provincial and federal requirements.
Implementation of the
Plan will verify the predictions of the environmental reports prepared
in accordance with the Ontario EAA and the Canadian EAA. Should any
unanticipated adverse environmental effects to birds or bats be
identified, the provisions of this Plan will mitigate those effects so
they do not become significant.
The purpose of this
Notice is to inform you that the draft Plan is now available for
stakeholder review and comment. The Plan is available on the Project
website at
www.wolfeislandwind.com. For consideration, comments must be
submitted no later than 4:30 PM on 16 January 2009. Comments can be
directed to Mr. Rob Nadolny, Senior Project Manager, Stantec Consulting
Ltd., at one of the following:
Email:
comments@wolfeislandwind.com
Fax: (519) 836-2493
Mail: 70 Southgate Drive, Suite 1
Guelph, Ontario N1G 4P5
Please note that no individual responses will be provided to submitted
comments. However, a general summary of stakeholder comments and the
Project response will be posted on the Project website.
Additionally, all
comments received on the draft PCFP will be placed into an attachment to
the summary document for continued reference by stakeholders.
Canadian Hydro
will work with Environment Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, and Natural Resources Canada to address and incorporate
comments as appropriate into the Final Post Construction Follow-up Plan
for this renewable energy initiative. Once completed, the final Plan
will be posted on the Project website and stakeholders will be notified
of the posting.
Wolfe Island Wind Project Brochure
Printed copies of this brochure can be picked up at the Wolfe Island office:
1570 Hwy 96 Wolfe Island, ON K0H 2Y0 |
