Public Notice
Project 4 — All-Season Road Connecting Berens River to Poplar River First Nation — Public Comments Invited and Federal Funding Available

January 22, 2015 — As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) commenced a federal environmental assessment for the proposed Project 4 — All-Season Road Connecting Berens River to Poplar River First Nation, located in Manitoba.

The public can review and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines, a document that identifies the potential environmental effects to be taken into consideration, and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS.

Written comments must be submitted by February 21, 2015 to:

Project 4 — All-Season Road Connecting Berens
River to Poplar River First Nation
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Canada Place
9700 Jasper Avenue, Suite 1145
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4C3
Telephone: 780-495-2037
Fax: 780-495-2876
CEAA.Project4-Projet4.ACEE@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Map depicting the location of the project, as described in the current document.

To view the draft EIS Guidelines or for more information, visit the Agency's website (Registry reference number 80094).

Copies of the draft EIS Guidelines are also available for viewing at the following locations:

Manitoba Legislative Library
200 Vaughan Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Millennium Public Library
4th Floor, 251 Donald Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Berens River First Nation Band Office
Berens River, Manitoba

Poplar River First Nation Band Office
Poplar River, Manitoba

Consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012, this is the second of four opportunities for the public to comment on this project. All comments received will be considered public. Following this comment period, the Agency will finalize and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent. Future public comment periods on the proponent's EIS and the draft Environmental Assessment Report will be announced at later dates.

Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and fines for non-compliance.

Federal Funding Available

The Agency is making available funding to support the participation of the public and Aboriginal groups in upcoming steps of the federal environmental assessment of this project. Funding is available for eligible individuals and groups to enable their participation in upcoming steps of the environmental assessment, which include reviewing and providing comments on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or EIS summary, and the draft Environmental Assessment Report.

To apply for funding, contact the Participant Funding Program by writing to PFP.PAFP@ceaa-acee.gc.ca or by calling 1-866-582-1884. Applications received by February 21, 2015 will be considered. Recipients and the amount of funding allocated will be announced at a later date.

The Proposed Project

Manitoba Floodway and East Side Road Authority proposes to construct an all-season road on provincial Crown land, designed as a 2-lane gravel public highway approximately 94 kilometres in length. As proposed, the road would begin near the Berens River First Nation, on the east side of Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, and extend north on the south side of the Berens River to the Poplar River First Nation reserve boundary. Four major water crossings (bridges) over the Berens, Etomami, North Etomami, and Leaf Rivers, would also be constructed as part of the project.

Document Reference Number: 5

Date modified: