PROJECT DETAILS

Project Schedule

Engagement With Indigenous Groups

Moraine Initiatives Ltd. is committed to an engagement process that incorporates input from Indigenous groups to facilitate information sharing, two-way dialogue in order to understand perceived project impacts, incorporate mitigation measures, consider Indigenous knowledge, and advance reconciliation.

Regulatory Requirements

Federal Approvals / Permits

  • Under the Impact Assessment Act – the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) reviewed the Project Description and determined that a federal Impact Assessment is not required.
  • Documents submitted by Moraine to the IAAC federal registry can be found using this link: https://iaac-aeic.gc.ca/050/evaluations/proj/84591
  • The Department of Fisheries and Oceans will be requested to review any potential effects to fish and fish habitat from the Project (construction and operations) to determine if an authorization or permit is required under the Fisheries Act.

Provincial Approvals / Permits

  • An Industrial Approval under the Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act for the power generation facility will be required for construction and operations of the facility.
  • The power generation facility and transmission line will be permitted by the Alberta Utilities Commission (Rule 007 and Rule 012).
  • The natural gas pipeline and CO2 pipeline will be approved through multiple Alberta Energy Regulator applications including: Conservation and Reclamation, Directives 065.
  • Water Act approvals and licenses will be obtained for any water diversions, waterbody crossings or temporary disturbance to wetlands.
  • Public Land dispositions will be obtained for the facility, pipelines, and transmission line to the extent they are located on Provincial crown land.
  • Historical Resource Act approval will be obtained for all Project disturbance footprints, including completion of Historical Resources Impact Assessments to assess areas of high potential for resources.

Municipal Approvals / Permits

  • Woodlands County Municipal Development Plan Bylaw 406/13
  • Woodlands County Land Use Bylaw 490/17
  • Intermunicipal Development Plan for Woodlands County and the Town of Whitecourt Bylaw 401/12

Project Considerations

Physical Environment

The power generation facility will be situated on a brownfield site, where disturbance to the natural environment has already occurred. Pipelines and the transmission line for the Project are anticipated to be adjacent to existing rights-of-way.

Areas of focus for the Project
include:

  • Air Quality
  • Noise
  • Groundwater
  • Soils
  • Vegetation and Wetlands
  • Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
  • Surface Water and Fish and Fish Habitat
  • Historical Resources

Effects identified will be avoided, mitigated, or managed through approved methods, which may include:

  • Ongoing monitoring
  • Management plans

Restricted activity periods and activities
Over 90% lower CO2 emission intensity than other state of the art combined cycle power generation in Alberta

Historical and Cultural

The Project will consider Traditional Land Use, Physical and Cultural Heritage, and Historical, Archaeological and Paleontological Resources.

A Historic Resources Impact Assessment has been requested by Alberta Arts, Culture, and Status of Women (ACSW) for areas of high potential for archaeological, palaeontological and historical occurrences (e.g., near the Athabasca River, where pipeline crossings will occur).

Mitigation measures will be completed as directed by ACSW including activities such as:

  • Avoidance of impact through project redesign or alignment of pipelines and transmission line
  • Field-based impact assessments (archaeology and/or paleontology)
  • Site-specific mitigation measures (e.g., controlled surface collection of cultural materials
  • Archaeological excavation
  • Documentation of historical structures activities

Indigenous Health, Social, and Economic

Indigenous Health Considerations

Potential effects on Indigenous health are being evaluated based on direct and indirect air quality effects and noise impacts from the construction and operation of the Project.

The Facility is directly adjacent to other industrial development and will be built on a brownfield site, currently used as natural resource extraction. The effects from equipment emissions and noise during construction are anticipated to be localized and not significant, which
will limit the adverse effects on Indigenous peoples.

Indigenous Social and Economic Considerations

Socio-economic effects are anticipated to be positive for Indigenous groups due to opportunities for local employment during construction and operation of the Project.

Opportunities for socio‑economic effects will be further evaluated based on engagement with Indigenous groups.