Staff
The draft environmental report for the hydroelectric development project on the Namakan River, proposed by the Ojibway Power and Energy Group Ltd. (OPEG), is now available to the public.
The report follows OPEG’s proposal to construct a 6.4 megawatt “run-of-river” hydroelectric generating station at High Falls on the Namakan River, which is located about 90 km southwest of Atikokan and 100 km southeast of Fort Frances.
Eventually, development of a “run-of-river” station at Hay Rapids is planned, as well.
OPEG is a partnership between Lac La Croix First Nation and Chant Construction Ltd., and the development of the hydro project is expected to bring economic benefit for the First Nation.
As part of the development process of these generating stations, OPEG has issued an environmental report which is now available online at www.opeg.ca
It also can be found in hard copy during the review period at the Atikokan Public Library, Fort Frances Public Library, and Lac La Croix First Nation band office.
Open houses also are slated to take place in February at three locations across the district.
The first will be held Feb. 15 from 5-8 p.m. in the Zhingwaako Zaaga’iganing School gymnasium at Lac La Croix First Nation.
This will be followed by an open house on Feb. 16 from 2-8 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion in Atikokan.
The final open house will be held Feb. 18 from 2-8 p.m. at the Adventure Inn in Fort Frances.
Since the project requires various environmental permits and approvals from both the federal and provincial agencies, the draft environmental report combines and consolidates the requirements for these.
It also outlines the consultations that were undertaken with aboriginal peoples, agencies, and the public concerning the development back in the winter of 2007/08.
The draft report also documents the existing environment of the proposed development’s site, as well as outlines what the environmental effects of the project will be and what measures may be required to mitigate these changes.
If all the required permits are approved by June, the report also outlines the construction schedule of the project, which could begin as early as this year.
In the longer term, there also are plans to eventually develop a hydroelectric dam at Myrtle Falls, although the environmental studies and report have yet to be done for this site.
Comments concerning the draft ER must be received in writing no later than Feb. 26.
These should be directed to either OPEG president Tim Saville at P.O. Box 248, Aurora, Ont., L4G 3H4 or Dale Gilbert, environmental co-ordinator for Chang Construction Ltd., at
226 Edward St., Aurora, Ont., L4G 3S8.
