BC Hydro and Power Authority (the proponent) has received an environmental assessment (EA) certificate for a fifth power plant unit in the Revelstoke Dam powerhouse. Environment Minister Barry Penner and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld made their decision to grant the EA certificate after considering the details of a comprehensive review led by B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).

The project consists of the installation of a fifth turbine and generating unit (500 megawatts) as well as a penstock and related equipment into an empty bay within the existing powerhouse at Revelstoke Dam.

The Revelstoke Dam and Generating Station was commissioned in 1984 as a four-unit facility, consisting of an earthfill wing dam and a concrete gravity main dam. The facility was originally designed to accommodate six units, but construction of the fifth and sixth units was deferred until additional capacity was required. The Revelstoke Generating Station currently operates at a combined maximum capacity of 1,980 megawatts. With the installation of the fifth unit, the maximum capacity of Revelstoke will increase to 2,480 megawatts.

The additional generating capacity, expected to be in service by the fall of 2010, will assist the proponent in meeting growing peak demand for electricity in British Columbia. The project is consistent with the provincial government's goal of becoming self-sufficient in electricity by 2016, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposed project also triggered a screening level review under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act due to an authorization required by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. The EAO and federal agency have harmonized the environmental assessment process and prepared a joint Screening Report/Assessment Report for decision makers.

The EAO Assessment Report concludes that effects from the project will be within acceptable levels, subject to adherence to the application’s design components and implementation of mitigation measures and commitments agreed to by the proponent.

In addition to the provincial EA certificate, the proponent will still need to obtain the necessary provincial and federal authorizations and approvals before the project can proceed.

The provincial EA certificate contains 76 commitments that the proponent must implement throughout the various phases of the project. Some key commitments include:

• Preparing environmental management plans for the construction phase to guide implementation of the project.

• Mitigating any potential incremental effects of the project to the endangered white sturgeon through the implementation of a comprehensive adaptive management plan.

• Developing and implementing a fish entrainment strategy to assess the risks and implementing management actions to mitigate entrainment impacts associated with the project.

• Implementing appropriate mitigation and compensation if the project shows a measurable negative effect on breeding and migratory birds and their associated habitat.

• Maintaining a high level of integrity with regard to environmental communications and reporting with First Nations on aspects of environmental performance and compliance.

Capital costs for the project are estimated to range between $280 million and $350 million and would create approximately 285 person-years of employment for tradespeople and 79 person-years of employment for engineers and managers over the three-year construction period. Estimated annual revenues to the B.C. government from water rentals will be $2.5 million.

More information on the environmental assessment certificate can be found at www.eao.gov.bc.ca

Source: Province of British Columbia