Approvals

Hydro One has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) study in accordance with the Class Environmental Assessment for Minor Transmission Facilities, in parallel with the Ontario Energy Board approvals process. The two approval processes are described below.

The Class EA process falls under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act and is an effective way of ensuring that transmission projects that have a predictable range of effects are planned and carried out in a manner which is environmentally acceptable.

As part of the Class EA for this particular project, Hydro One will also seek Class EA approval to re-build the existing 115 kV transmission line along Parkinson Road/Towerline Road from the new Commerce Way TS tap to the tap which supplies the Toyota plant to accommodate any potential reliability or power quality upgrades which may be required by the auto manufacturer in the future.

Following a consultation process with members of the public, government agencies and municipalities (see below), a draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) is made available for stakeholder review and comment for a specific period of time (usually 30 or 60 days). If no concerns are expressed during the review period, the project is considered to be acceptable. The final ESR is filed with the Ministry of the Environment and approval is granted.

If concerns are expressed during the public review period, Hydro One will attempt to resolve them to complete the EA process. If Hydro One cannot satisfy all of the concerns, a stakeholder may submit a "bump-up" request for an Individual Environmental Assessment of the proposed undertaking. Hydro One would then consider whether a re-designation of the project is appropriate, and send its response, the draft ESR and the individual's bump-up request to the Minister of the Environment for a decision as to whether or not the project requires an Individual EA or if the project should be approved as proposed.

On April 30, 2009, Hydro One filed the final Environmental Study Report (ESR) for this project with the Ministry of the Environment.  The document is posted below.  No public comments were received on the draft ESR which was available for public review and comment from March 12 to April 13, 2009 inclusive. This completes the Class Environmental process for this project, which was initiated early in 2008.

On May 1, 2009, Hydro One submitted an application to the Ontario Energy Board(OEB) pursuant to Section 92 of the OEB Act, seeking “leave to construct” the transmission line upgrades required to connect the proposed Commerce Way Transformer Station.  The application has been assigned file # EB-2009-0079, and is entitled Woodstock East Transmission Line Upgrade Project.  There will be opportunities for interested parties to participate in the OEB hearing into Hydro One’s application.  A newspaper advertisement will be published in the Woodstock Sentinel Review once the hearing schedule is determined, providing direction on how interested parties may participate in the hearing.

Final Environmental Study Report

• Final ESR - Executive Summary
• Final ESR - Chapter 1
• Final ESR - Chapter 2
• Final ESR - Chapter 3
• Final ESR - Chapter 4 
• Final ESR - Chapter 5 
• Final ESR - Chapter 6 
• Final ESR - Chapter 7 
• Final ESR - Chapters 8-10 
  • Final ESR - Appendix A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8
  • Final ESR - Appendix B
  • Final ESR - Appendix C
  • Final ESR - Appendix D
  • Final ESR - Appendix E1, E2, E3, E4
  • Final ESR - Appendix F1, F2, F3, F4
  • Final ESR - Appendix G1, G2 (37.6 MB High-speed Internet Required)
  • Final ESR - Appendix H
  • Final ESR - Appendix I1, I2

 Hydro One released its Draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) for a 30-day public review period on March 12, 2009. A Notice of Completion advertisement was also published in local newspapers. Download the Draft ESR and Appendices below:

• Draft ESR - Executive Summary 
• Draft ESR - Chapter 1 
• Draft ESR - Chapter 2 
• Draft ESR - Chapter 3 
• Draft ESR - Chapter 4
• Draft ESR - Chapter 5 
• Draft ESR - Chapter 6 
• Draft ESR - Chapter 7 
• Draft ESR - Chapters 8-10
• Draft ESR - Appendix A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A6, A7, A8
• Draft ESR - Appendix B
• Draft ESR - Appendix C
• Draft ESR - Appendix D
• Draft ESR - Appendix E1, E2, E3, E4
• Draft ESR - Appendix F1, F2, F3, F4
• Draft ESR - Appendix G1, G2 (38.4 MB High-speed Internet Required)
• Draft ESR - Appendix H

Ontario Energy Board Approval
The transmission line is subject to a "Leave to Construct" approval from the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) under Section 92 of the Ontario Energy Board Act.

The OEB is the regulator of Ontario's natural gas and electricity industries. The OEB's role is to review a transmission project's effect on consumers with respect to price, reliability and quality of electricity service. The OEB review process also provides an opportunity for public input. For more information on the OEB, visit www.oeb.gov.on.ca.