Public Notice

Gitsegukla First Nation - Watermain Upgrade Project – Public Comments Invited

May 23, 2025 – Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) must determine whether the proposed Watermain Upgrade Project, located in Gitsegukla, BC is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by June 23, 2025 to:

BC Environment Team

Indigenous Services Canada

bcciarpubliccomments@sac-isc.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

The Gitsegukla First Nation community is located approximately halfway between the City of Terrace and the Town of Smithers in northwest British Columbia. The Project involves proposed watermain upgrades to replace a section of the community's primary watermain between the upper pressure release valve (PRV) and Hilltop Avenue. The section of watermain for replacement runs adjacent to Kits Creek. A leak was detected in July 2021 and flows have been isolated and re-routed along an alternate watermain. Flow is currently being re-routed through a smaller watermain which is restricting flows to the community. A 200 mm diameter polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe is proposed to be installed to replace the leaking section of pipe. This will involve excavating and installing the new pipe within the previously cleared area pipeline right-of-way (ROW) adjacent to Kits Creek and under Hilltop Avenue, below the stream bed. The old watermain will be left in place except where it interferes with the installation of the new watermain. It will remain in place at the crossing of Kits Creek.