From the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to the Haisla Nation re: Request for Comments on the Potential Impacts of the Proposed Pacific Future Energy Refinery Project

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Document Reference Number: 18

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410-701 West Georgia St
Vancouver BC V7Y 1C6

Agence canadienne d'évaluation environnementale
410-701 rue Georgia ouest
Vancouver (C-B) V7Y 1C6

June 30, 2016

Chief Councillor Ellis Ross
Haisla Nation
P.O. Box 1101
Kitamaat Village BC V0T 2B0

Dear Chief Councillor Ross,

RE: Determination of the Requirement for an Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Pacific Future Energy Refinery Project, located 32 kilometres north of Kitimat, B.C.

On June 17, 2016, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency), received a project description from Pacific Future Energy Corporation (the proponent) for the Pacific Future Energy Refinery Project (the Project). This letter invites you to provide your views on the potential impacts of the Project on your community.

The Project

The proponent proposes to develop an oil refinery located near Lakelse Lake, approximately 32 kilometres north of Kitimat. The refinery has a proposed processing capacity of 31,795 m³ per day of bitumen, over a project life of at least 60 years. Please see the attached summary of the project description for additional information.

The Pacific Future Energy Refinery Project is a separate proposal from the proposed Kitimat Clean Energy Refinery Project (Registry reference 80125) which I wrote to you about on May 17, 2016. I note this to avoid any confusion between the two proposed projects. While both projects propose to locate their refineries in the same general area, they are separate undertakings with separate proponents and as such the Agency will be making a determination for each project as to whether a federal environmental assessment will be required.

Determination of Need for a Federal Environmental Assessment

In accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012, the Agency is currently determining whether an environmental assessment (EA) of the Project is required.

This determination will be made by considering the characteristics of the Project, the possible adverse environmental effects of the Project on the environment, and any public and Aboriginal comments received during a 20-day consultation period.

The Agency is currently seeking the initial views of the Haisla Nation on the following matters based on the information set out in the project description:

  • Please identify if there are possible adverse environmental effects of the Project that are of importance to your community. Do you anticipate any potential adverse environmental effects that are not reflected in the project description?
  • Please identify if there are potential changes to the environment that may be caused by the Project that would result in changes to your community's:
    • health and socio-economic conditions,
    • physical and cultural heritage,
    • current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes, or
    • structures, sites or things of historical, archaeological, paleontological or architectural significance.
  • Please identify any potential impacts of the Project on your potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights.

Please provide your comments by Thursday, July 21, 2016 to ensure your comments will be considered in the Agency's decision of whether an EA of the Project is required. I have attached a form addressing these items for your convenience; however, you may choose to respond in another format. You will be informed of the decision on whether an EA of the Project will be commenced and any further consultation steps.

Coordination of Federal Crown Consultation

Should the Agency determine that a federal EA is required for the Project, then we will also be the federal Crown Consultation Coordinator for the Project. Accordingly, the Agency would coordinate federal-Aboriginal consultations related to potential and established Aboriginal and Treaty rights that could be adversely impacted by the proposed Project. Please provide us with contact information for staff or other representatives who are authorized to coordinate consultation activities and information-sharing on behalf of the Haisla Nation.

Should a federal EA be required, then federal funding would be made available to support the participation of some Aboriginal groups during certain phases of an EA. More information on the federal EA process, including the Agency's Participant Funding Program, is available at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca.

Provincial Review

The Project may also be subject to provincial review. Please contact Scott Bailey at the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office for additional information. Scott Bailey may be reached at 250-356-1763 or
Scott.Bailey@gov.bc.ca.

Contacting the Agency

Rob Hajdu will be managing, on behalf of the Agency, the initial EA determination process for the Project, and will be contacting you as a follow-up to this letter.

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact Rob at 604-666-2601 or Rob.Hajdu@ceaa-acee.gc.ca if you have any questions or wish to provide the Agency with information relating to the Project and any proposed impacts it could have on your potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Should you have any documents that contain confidential or sensitive information that you believe should be protected from release to the public, please contact Rob Hajdu before you provide them to us.

Sincerely,

<Original signed by>

Lisa Walls
Director, Pacific and Yukon Region

Enclosures:
#1 Summary of the Project Description
#2 Comment Form: Information to Inform the Determination of EA Requirements

c.c.:
Scott Bailey, British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office
Serena Boutros, Major Project Management Office
Jacques Benoit, Pacific Future Energy Corporation
Whitney Lukuku, Lands and Resources Manager
Jason Majore, Director of Economic Development
Jennifer Griffith, Donovan & Company

Information to Inform the Determination of EA Requirements

Please respond by: Thursday, July 21, 2016

Pacific Future Energy Project – Pacific Future Energy Corporation
Agency File No.: 005565

Nation / Band / Government: Haisla Nation
EA Contact Name: ______________________________ Telephone: ______________________________
Address: ______________________________ Fax: ______________________________
Email: ______________________________

1. Does the project description accurately identify the potential adverse environmental effects of the Project that would be of importance to your group or community?
Yes       No

Please attach additional information that your group or community considers relevant.

____________________________________________________________

2. In your opinion, could the potential changes to the environment caused by the Project result in changes to your community's:

(a) health and socio-economic conditions? Yes No
(b) physical and cultural heritage? Yes No
(c) current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes? Yes No
(d) structure, site or thing that is of historical, archaeological, paleontological or architectural significance? Yes No

Specify as appropriate:

____________________________________________________________

3. Does the Project have the potential to impact on your potential or established Aboriginal or Treaty rights?
Yes       No

Specify as appropriate:

____________________________________________________________

 

______________________________
Print Name of responder

______________________________
Signature

______________________________
Title of responder

______________________________
Date

Please respond to the above questions by Thursday, July 21, 2016 via email at Rob.Hajdu@ceaa-acee.gc.ca or fax at 604-666-6990. Thank you.

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