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The Environmental Assessment (EA) Process

An environmental assessment includes consultation and engagement with Indigenous communities, government officials and agencies, and interested persons and organizations. The process is designed to assess the existing environment and mitigate potential effects before decisions are made about proceeding with a proposed project. Waasigan required completion of a comprehensive environmental assessment under Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act.​

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Amended Environmental Assessment

Hydro One submitted the EA Report to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) in November 2023, which was available for public review and comment, and amended in April 2024. The MECP approved the Amended EA in September 2024. The Notice of Approval can be viewed here.

Read the Amended Environmental Assessment Highlights

Project Documents and Materials Archive

Amended Environmental Assessment
 

Amended Environmental Assessment Appendices
 

Amended Environmental Assessment Record of Consultation
 

Amended Environmental Assessment Interactive Mapping Tool
 

The interactive mapping tool can be used to review the Project footprint, terrestrial, aquatics and other environmental data captured in the final EA Report. This detailed information is available to assist in the review of the final EA Report and provide feedback.

View the Final Environmental Assessment Interactive Mapping Tool

Additional Amended Environmental Assessment Supporting Documents
 

Physical locations for review
 

  • Atikokan Public Library
    214 Sykes, Atikokan
    807-597-4406

  • Dryden Public Library
    36 Van Horne Avenue, Dryden
    807-223-1475

  • Ignace Public Library *USBs only
    36 Main Street, Ignace
    807-934-2280

  • Shuniah Municipal Office
    420 Leslie Avenue, Thunder Bay
    807-683-4545

  • Thunder Bay Public Library Waverley Branch *USBs only
    285 Red River Road, Thunder Bay
    807-345-8275

  • Kaministiquia Community Centre
    6197 Dawson Road, Kaministiquia
    807-933-4020

  • MECP Environmental Assessment Branch
    135 St. Clair Avenue W, 7th Floor, Toronto
    437-247-3443

  • Shebandowan Community Centre
    142 Shebandowan Rd, Shebandowan
    807-926-2998

Field Program

Hydro One has completed field work to collect data for the EA to support the selection of a preferred route and assess potential project effects. Field programs can be viewed here:


Click here to view the field work schedule. Maps of proposed survey locations are available here.​

Field Work Notices
 

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference is the first step in the EA process and provides the framework for how the EA will be carried out. A draft Terms of Reference was available for public review and comment between June 29 and August 14, 2020. Hydro One submitted a proposed Terms of Reference to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) in October 2020. The proposed Terms of Reference was then amended based on comments received and submitted to the Ministry in June 2021. Hydro One received approval of the amended Terms of Reference from the MECP in February 2022. Click here to view the Notice of Approval on the Ministry’s website.


Please see below to view the amended Terms of Reference:

Please see below to view the Record of Consultation for the proposed and amended Terms of Reference:

Construction Drop-In Sessions

Project Documents and Materials Archive
 

Environmental Assessment Phase

Project Documents and Materials Archive
 

  • Click here to view the November 2023 Notice of Submission for the final EA Report (aussi disponible en français) (Anishnaabemowin)

  • Click here to view our June 2023 invitation to our draft EA community open houses (aussi disponible en français)

  • Click here to view a copy of the May 2023 notice of public review and comment for the environmental assessment (en français) (Anishnaabemowin)

  • Click here to view a copy of the information shared at the March 2023 community open house

  • Click here to view a copy of the invitation to the March 2023 community open house.

  • Click here to take a virtual tour of our January 2023 open houses.

  • Click here to view a copy of the information shared at the January 2023 in-person community open houses

  • Click here to view our January 2023 invitation to our community open houses (en français) (Anishnaabemowin)

  • Click here to view a narrated Virtual Community Open House presentation from May 18, 2022 (.PPTX)

  • Click here to listen to the audio recording from our Virtual Community Open House, held May 18, 2022 (.MP3)

  • Click here to view our September 2022 project update postcard delivered to residents and businesses in the region

  • Click here to view a copy of the information shared at the May 2022 in-person community open houses

  • Click here to view our May 2022 in-person community open houses supporting materials

  • Click here to view our April 2022 invitation to our community open houses (aussi disponible en français)

  • Click here to view our March 2022 notice of commencement for the environmental assessment (aussi disponible en français) (Anishnaabemowin)

Terms of Reference Phase

Project Documents and Materials Archive
 

  • Click here to view a narrated project update presentation from May 2020 below (YouTube).

  • Click here to view our virtual information session below, held July 30, 2020 (YouTube).

  • Click here to view our November 2020 project update postcard delivered to residents and businesses in the region

  • Click here to view our October 2020 community notice for the submission of the Terms of Reference (aussi disponible en français)

  • Click here to view our October 2020 newspaper ad for the submission of the Terms of Reference

  • Click here to view our July 30, 2020 virtual information session presentation in PDF format

  • Click here to view our July 2020 newspaper ad invitation to the virtual information session

  • Click here to view our July 2020 community notice invitation to the virtual information session (aussi disponible en français)

  • Click here to view our June/July 2020 newspaper ads for the release of the draft Terms of Reference (aussi disponible en français)

  • Click here to view our May 2020 project update presentation materials in PDF format

  • Click here to view the Information Panels that were displayed at our Community Information Centre in May 2019

  • View the invitation to the May 2019 Community Information Centres, that were delivered to residents and businesses within the study area

  • View the newspaper ad for the 2019 Community Information Centres (aussi disponible en français)

  • Click here to view the Notice of Commencement of Terms of Reference and Invitation to Community Information Centres, April 2019 (aussi disponible en français).



To provide comments or to be added to the project contact list, please call or email:​​

​1-877-345-6799​​​​​​

Community.Relations@HydroOne.com​​​​

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