B.C. government rejects Pitt power project

INFORMATION BULLETIN
For Immediate Release
2008ENV0032-000418
March 26, 2008

Ministry of Environment

PROPOSAL FOR TRANSMISSION LINES IN PARK REJECTED

VICTORIA - Environment Minister Barry Penner has decided not to recommend to Cabinet or the Legislature that the proposal by Northwest Cascade Power Limited to adjust the boundaries of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park be accepted.

Penner made the decision after a briefing with BC Parks staff this morning, following the last scheduled public meeting regarding the proposed park boundary amendment. He concluded the proposal did not meet the strict environmental criteria set forth in the Provincial Park Boundary Adjustment Policy, nor did it have sufficient support from the public, some First Nations, and local government.

The Provincial Park Boundary Adjustment Policy has been in place since 2004 and makes it clear that a proponent must demonstrate a clear need for a boundary adjustment. The policy is available online at: < href="www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/">www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/

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Kate Thompson
Manager, Media Relations
250 953-4577

http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008ENV0032-000418.htm

B.C. government rejects Pitt power project

The British Columbia government has rejected a controversial proposal by an independent electricity project developer to run a power line through Pinecone Burke Provincial Park, Environment Minister Barry Penner said today.

The announcement comes a day after more than 1,000 people jammed Pitt Meadows secondary school to express their opposition to a proposal by Run of River Power to connect its proposed series of run of river hydro projects in the Upper Pitt River Valley to BC Hydro's provincial electricity grid.

Run of River will now have to find an alternate transmission route for its proposal to build seven run of river hydroelectric generating projects in the Upper Pitt, although the company has indicated that the Pinecone route was its preferred option.

The project still requires an environmental approval from the province, and Run of River must also obtain a power sales agreement with BC Hydro before it can proceed.

Power project rejected

The provincial government has backed off the Run-of-River project for the Upper Pitt River - less than 24 hours after 1,000 people packed Pitt Meadows Secondary to speak out against the project.

The government issued a brief release that said: "Environment Minister Barry Penner has decided not to recommend to Cabinet or the Legislature that the proposal by Northwest Cascade Power Limited to adjust the boundaries of Pinecone Burke Provincial Park be accepted.

"Penner made the decision after a briefing with BC Parks staff this morning, following the last scheduled public meeting regarding the proposed park boundary amendment.

He concluded the proposal did not meet the strict environmental criteria set forth in the Provincial Park Boundary Adjustment Policy, nor did it have sufficient support from the public, some First Nations, and local government."

The Provincial Park Boundary Adjustment Policy has been in place since 2004 and makes it clear that a proponent must demonstrate a clear need for a boundary adjustment. The policy is available online at: www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks

Opponents who spoke Tuesday night said the project would destroy the fish habitat. Others were furious that transmission lines could cut a swath through the provincial park.

© Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows TIMES 2008