Consultant en énergie éolienne au service du monde Wind energy consultant for the world Wartenbe Wind Energy Project by Dokie Wind Energy Environmental Assessment Application An Overview Working Group Meeting Fort St. John, British Columbia, Feb

Hélimax Presentation Outline Overview of the Project Constraints Analysis and Layout Environmental Assessment –Public consultation –First Nations consultation –Summary of effects –Overview of cumulative effects

Hélimax The Project Maximum build-out of 47 turbines, 70.5 MW capacity GE 1.5 MW turbine, 80-m hub height, 77-m rotor diameter Located on Mount Wartenbe, between Highway 97 and the Lone Prairie community Supply for estimated 20,000 households Submission to BC Hydro CFT this summer Proposed commissioning date: 2008

Hélimax Location of Project

Hélimax Constraints Analysis and Project Layout Layout has considered a set of constraints –Sensitive ecosystems/areas – 200-m buffer –Traditional land use sites – m buffer –Watercourses, waterbodies – 50-m buffer –Slopes - > 15% slopes avoided –Existing access roads – 50-m buffer –Dwellings – 500-m buffer –Transmission lines – 150-m buffer –Pipelines – 150-m buffer Minimise impact

Hélimax Layout/Footprint Map

Hélimax

Public Consultation Issues scoping/terms of reference –Open house in Chetwynd June 13, 2005 –Approx. 40 attendees –Positive feedback from the community and few issues raised Public Comment Period: to March 31st 2006 –Open houses in Chetwynd, Hudson’s Hope and Fort St. John (Feb 20-22) –Additional meetings with the Lone Prairie grazers and the community; a number of concerns expressed –Support from Chetwynd municipality

Hélimax First Nations Consultation First Nations Consulted West Moberly First Nations Saulteau First Nations McLeod Lake Indian Band Halfway River First Nations Various meetings/discussions since Spring 2005 Issues identification Involvement in field work Letters of support and MoU signed Review of Application Benefits package under discussion

Hélimax Summary of the Environmental Assessment Effects on the « Biophysical » Environment –Air and Climate –Terrain and soils –Hydrology, water quality and aquatic resources –Vegetation –Avifauna –Bats –Terrestrial Fauna –Archaeology All baseline/field work undertaken in Spring, Summer and Fall of 2005

Hélimax Effects on the « Socio-Economic » Environment –Land use (mostly grazing) –Economics and community settings –Landscapes –Acoustic environment –Communication systems –Public health –First Nations communities

Hélimax Summary of Effects Considered a low-impact project Project-specific effects on the biophysical and socio-economic environments are of minimal, low or moderate concern, and not significant –Application of setbacks for project configuration –Small footprint –Access management –Land use compatibility –Commitment to apply several component-specific mitigation measures –Benefits package to Lone Prairie community and grazers –Benefits package to First Nations –Overall visual impacts are not significant, but visual impacts on the Lone Prairie area is considered of « medium concern »

Hélimax Overview of Cumulative Effects Cumulative effects are considered of minimal to low concern and not significant for most components Cumulative effects considered significant for rare ecosystems, breeding birds and wintering birds –Contribution of Project is however considered not significant