New notice of intent to make a determination

Heart Lake BF 80752 Bridge Replacement Project – Public Comments Invited

October 28, 2020 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Heart Lake BF 80752 Bridge Replacement Project located in 55.02591, -111.54668 is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

Transport Canada is inviting navigation related comments and concerns, from the public and Indigenous users.  These comments and concerns can help inform Transport Canada's Navigation Protection Program's evaluation of potential impacts to navigation and subsequent determination of appropriate mitigation measures later on, in the regulatory approvals phase.

Written comments must be submitted by November 28, 2020 to:

Stacey LeBlanc

630 CANADA PLACE, 9700 JASPER AVE

stacey.leblanc@canada.ca

The Proposed Project

Heart Lake First Nation is proposing to replace a bridge over the Piche River on the Heart Lake First Nations Reserve No. 167. The Project is located within SW 01-070-11 W4M (approximately 15 km east of Highway 881 and 70 km northeast of Lac La Biche) and consists of Bridge File (BF) 80752 crossing the Piche River along an unnamed local road.

An assessment of BF 80752 indicated that the bridge is in poor condition and near the end of its useful life, and requires either rehabilitation or replacement (WSP 2014). As the bridge was constructed in 1975 and usage is anticipated to increase significantly in the near future, bridge replacement was deemed to be the more favourable option given the risks typically associated with rehabilitation work. The Project entails replacement of the BF 80752 bridge from its current configuration (three span 5.5 m – 5.5 m – 5.5 m treated timber stringers with treated timber substructures) to a more durable option approximately 16 m downstream of the current location.

The existing bridge is along the only access road in or out of the First Nation, representing an essential piece of infrastructure for the community.