Saik'uz-Joseph Street Extension Road for Emergency Services

Project Summary
The community is currently split into two neighbourhoods that straddle Kenney Dam Road. The addition of this road will reduce emergency traffic flow through the subdivision and improve traffic movement through the community. Currently, only one main road through the community provides access to Administration Building, Day Care, Public Works Yard, and proposed Fire Hall. The main road is narrow, with narrow shoulders, and there are speed humps along the whole length. It is already very busy with school and residential traffic. Emergency service access to the east side of the community is hampered by the need to drive through the westside of the community, which greatly increases emergency response time. Saik'uz has their own Operations and Maintenance (O&M) team that manages the repairs and maintenance of community infrastructure and facilities. The existing O&M staff will also be responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the Joseph Street Extension.

Approximately 400 m of paved road (6 m wide) that connects Joseph Street and Kenney Dam Road. The extension of this roads serves the following purposes: 

  • Reduces the emergency response travel time to the east side of the community; and
  • Reduces the amount of emergency traffic flow through the community, i.e. narrow streets with a high pedestrian traffic load.

Street lighting is also required along the proposed road for vehicle and pedestrian safety.
The work also includes the installation of a domestic water service (including 50 mm for fire hall) , and a sanitary sewer service (100 mm for the fire hall), for the proposed fire hall that is to be constructed on Joseph Street (Lot 23).

Project activities described are specific to construction and operations. The proposed road development is within a previously disturbed right-of-way, and does not require any clearing of native vegetation. Construction activities include repairs of the existing partial road base, excavation of soils , road preparation for paving, and installation of street lighting.

Waste Generation
Potential for waste generation during construction is from air emissions, soil removal, excess bitumen pavement or road surface and general site garbage from construction crews. Air emissions during the construction phase will be typical of the machinery used in earthworks and construction projects. Topsoil in the Project footprint supports extensive weed infestations, so will be excavated and disposed of at a site approved by the Project Engineer. Excess road surface waste will be disposed of at an appropriate disposal site, as directed by the Project Engineer. Garbage generated from construction crews will be collected and regularly removed from th e work site to avoid attracting wildlife. Proper management and disposal of attractants such as garbage and petroleum products will reduce the possibility of wild life-human conflicts.

Land Description and Land Use
There is one unlicensed water supply well (tag #108745) located in close proximity to the Project footprint and five water supply wells (tag #20287, 1672, 20179, 20513, and 94416) within 500 m of the Project footprint.

Depth to water at existing well in close proximity to the Project footprint i s 30 m.

There is a treed ecosystem approximately 50 m north and 40 m south of the Project footprint. Stony Creek is located approximately 370 m south east, Nulki Lake is a pproximately 1.8 km southwest , and Tachick Lake is approximately 1.9 km northwest. These have been identified as an environmentally sensitive but do not interface with the Project footprint.

Flora and Fauna
As the Project footprint is already highly disturbed, the site is dominated by invasive species. Non-native grasses also dominate the site. The disturbed habitat in the Project footprint provides little value to wildlife.

No surface water was observed within the Project footprint at the time of Associated's environmental field investigation.

There are no plant species at risk with the potential to occur within the Project Area, and there are no known occurrences of plant species at risk within the Project Area.

Wildlife Species at Risk
Baseline conditions are unlikely to su pport federally or provincially listed species.

Migratory Birds
The Project footprint h a s limited migratory bird nesting potential because of the bare, compacted soil and regular use. However, consideration for bird nesting potential will be part of the construction planning and monitoring.

Fish or Fish Habitat
No fish or fish habitat are present within the Project footprint. The closest waterbody is Stony Creek loccated approximately 370 m southeast.

Cultural Historical or Archaeological Sites
An archeological study has not been completed for the Project to date. It is assumed that a n Archaeological Overview A ssessment (AOA) is not required as the proposed works will occur on previously disturbed ground.

Traditional Use Areas
The Project is located on reserve land; however, most planned development is within an existing disturbed area that is not utilized for traditional land use resources.

Comments and Other Information
The Project is located in a previously disturbed area . A EMP will b e prepared by a qualified professional in advance of construction, which will outline the environmental considerations on site, mitigation measures and recommendations to guide construction activities, and will be included in the tender package. Mitigation measures to reduce the spread of noxious and invasive weeds will be included in the EMP for the Project. Provided mitigation measures are followed to avoid the transfer and infestation of weeds , no residual environmental effects are expected as a result of the Project.

Potential Project Effects
The potential Project effects and the project phase are as follows:
• Soil disturbance (direct effect: grubbing and terrain re-s haping) ;
• Disturbance to wildlife (direct effect: grubbing); and
• Vegetation or ecosystem disturbance (direct effect: spread of invasive species).

Recommendations for Design
The recommendations to minimize potential Project effects are as follows:
• The contractor should develop a project -specific Environmental Management Plan that includes invasive species management, and site revegetation.
• All permanent and temporary works should be limited to previously disturbed areas.
• If clearing of native vegetation is required, S aik'uz First Nation must be notified, and clearing must be approved by the Nation.
• Prior to site preparation works (i.e., grubbing), all invasive species should be removed. If they have set seed, they should be placed in bags and disposed of at an approved facility . If it is prior to flowering and seed set, they can be cut and left on site.
• Topsoil removed from the Project footprint should be buried or disposed of, and not reused on site or in the local area to prevent the re -establishment and spread of invasive species.

Note: Information extracted from consultant's letter dated Feb. 7, 2022.

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Latest update

May 6, 2022 - Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) issued its Notice of Determination and determined that the project:
is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

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Contacts

Indigenous Services Canada
Fasih Siddiqui, Senior Engineer
1138 Melville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6E 4S3
Telephone: 604-376-0802
Fax: 604-775-7149
Email: Fasih.Siddiqui@sac-isc.gc.ca


  • Location

    • Dakelh Nation, S aik'uz First Nation, Stony Creek I.R. No. 1 (British Columbia)
  • Nature of Activity

    • Other, not otherwise specified
  • Assessment Status

    In progress
  • Start Date

    2022-04-06
  • Proponent

    Saik'uz First Nation
  • Authorities

    • Indigenous Services Canada
  • Assessment Type

    Project on federal lands
  • Reference Number

    83521
Disclaimer

This map is for illustrative purposes. The markers represent the approximate locations based on available data. More than one marker may be identified for a given assessment.

 

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