Jul 272011
 

Summary
Transport Canada has not responded to questions concerning public safety. 
 

Detail
Transport Canada is the responsible authority for many of the public’s concerns for the proposed hydro-electric generating station at the Bala Falls.

We have found that the proponent will not provide responses that answer our questions, so we have posed these directly to Transport Canada, with no response, as summarized below.

  1. On May 5, 2010 we sent this e-mail to Transport Canada. We were requesting information for some of the concerns we detailed in our response to the proponent’s environmental screening report, including:
    • Why the proposed upstream safety booms use a design which does not facilitate self-rescue.
    • The rescue procedures and responsibilities required for people hanging onto each of the upstream safety booms, and for boats held against these safety booms.
    • Explain how water speeds comparable to those during spring runoff would be safe during the main summer recreation period, directly adjacent to the town docks. 
       
  2. We promptly (on May 7, 2010) received this reply from Transport Canada in which they state they “will work on getting a full reply to you”, and that “a direct reply will be provided to you”
     
  3. After not receiving a reply for 4 months, on September 21, 2010 we sent this follow-up e-mail asking when Transport Canada would be able to respond to our May 5, 2010 e-mail, and also whether Transport Canada has authority for the safety aspects of the proposed project for in-water recreational activities, such as swimming. 
     
  4. After another 4 months of waiting, on January 19, 2011 we sent this follow-up e-mail (along with the original attachments) noting we were still awaiting a response to our May 5, 2010 e-mail and also that we continue to have many public safety concerns, such as:
    • How the upstream safety boom can be considered safe given that its concave design works against self-rescue.
    • That children are being encouraged to swim upstream of the water intake, as part of the Bala Regatta. 
       
  5. There has been no further communication from Transport Canada.

It is now over a year since asking these questions, and all we have received from Transport Canada is the one response that they would respond.

Given that the proponent hasn’t replied to these public safety concerns either, what is the public to do. The environmental assessment process includes public consultation requirements, but the proponent, Transport Canada, and the Ministry of the Environment will not respond to the public’s concerns.

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