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Water Fact Sheets Manitoba Floods |
Red River Floodway
Federal and Provincial Regulators Report
The federal and provincial reports advising regulators as to approval of the proposed Red River Floodway Expansion ('Floodway Expansion') were released in spring 2005. The federal screening report, authored by Infrastructure Canada - the lead responsible authority (RA) under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) - was released May 20th, 2005. The period for public comments and submissions closed June 22, 2005.View the May 2005 Infrastructure Canada Screening Report - Red River Floodway Expansion Project The federal government screening report recommends approval of the proposed Floodway Expansion, subject to requirements that the Manitoba Floodway Authority (MFA),submit a detailed environmental management plan, various environmental protection plans, and other monitoring and reporting documents. The federal screening report also refers to ongoing stakeholder involvement in the next phases of the project.  Download the Manitoba Wildlands list of federal screening report requirements  (PDF)On June 10, 2005, the Clean Environment Commission (CEC) released its report, entitled, Report on Public Hearings - Red River Floodway Expansion. The report provides advice to the Manitoba Minister of Conservation, who has provincial responsibilities for licensing the Floodway Expansion project. The CEC report included 54 recommendations, some of which pertain directly to licensing decisions, while others address the environmental assessment and review process itself. A significant number of the CEC recommendations refer to public accessibility to information and public involvement in the next phases of the Floodway Expansion project. Download the Manitoba Wildlands list of CEC recommendations regarding public participation and access to information (PDF)Visit the CEC June 2005 Report on Public Hearings - Red River Floodway Expansion Manitoba Wildlands submitted comments on the federal screening report for the Floodway Expansion. The submission also contains some comments regarding the CEC report as a point of reference. Download Manitoba Wildlands' June 22, 2005 Comments on the 2005 Infrastructure Canada Screening Report (PDF)Floodway Hearings ConcludeIssues featured in closing statements included the lack of acknowledgement of the existing floodway and its ongoing impacts, and the need for environmental assessment of effects from both the existing floodway and the proposed expansion. Manitoba Wildlands Director Gaile Whelan Enns made closing statements before the CEC to March 9, 2005. Ms. Whelan Enns noted the inadequacy of the EIS and review process in terms of impacts on protected areas and fulfillment of existing public policies. Manitoba Wildlands also pointed to climate change impacts from expanding the floodway and advocated for a strategy to make the project carbon-neutral. Ms. Whelan Enns noted "It is time for Manitoba to make this project carbon neutral, thereby proving that Manitoba is Kyoto friendly, carbon savvy and emissions wise." The CEC has 90 days from hearings adjournment to deliberate and produce a report with recommendations to the Minister of Conservation regarding the proposed Floodway Expansion project. Concurrently, the federal responsible authorities (the Departments of Transport, Infrastructure, and Fisheries and Oceans) will be producing a screening report as per the provisions of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). View transcripts for March 8, 9, 10, 2005 includes closing statements by public participants View the transcript of Manitoba Wildlands' closing statement (begin page 3705, line 11) Download Manitoba Wildlands' closing statement and recommendations (PDF)Floodway Expansion Hearings
Manitoba Clean Environment Commission (CEC) hearings for the proposed Floodway Expansion project began February 15, 2005, to conclude in March 2005. Four days of hearings were held outside Winnipeg, in Oakbank. No public hearings are being held in the Red River Valley, south of Winnipeg, and south of the floodgates. The hearings started February 14, 2005, however the CEC heard arguments regarding a motion filed by the rural municipalities (RM) of East St. Paul, Springfield and St. Clements. The motion requested that the CEC adjourn the hearings and direct the Manitoba Floodway Authority (MFA), the project proponent, to provide more information on the design of the floodway expansion so the RMs can properly analyze the impacts. The municipalities are worried the $665-million floodway expansion could cause their aquifers to leak into the floodway and that contaminated water would seep into their drinking water. Aquifer damage has resulted from the original floodway. The Chair of the CEC dismissed the RMs motion on February 15, 2005, indicating that the issues raised in the municipalities' motion will be addressed through the hearing process. View the CEC hearings transcript View the motion, CEC decision, and the motions brief on the CEC web site (PDF) Floodway Expansion Project Environmental AssessmentView the MFA web site View the Manitoba Floodway Expansion Authority web site View the Public Registry File for the proposed Floodway Expansion project (File #4967.00) View the Notice of Environment Act Proposal for the proposed Floodway Expansion (File #4967.00) View the July 2003 Floodway Expansion Project Description (PDF) 
The Floodway Expansion project is being assessed by the provincial and federal governments through the Manitoba Environment Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). The review and assessment needs to take place in accordance with the Canada - Manitoba Agreement on Environmental Assessment Cooperation. Canada has identified responsibilities under CEAA regarding the proposed Floodway Expansion project. CEAA is triggered by federal funds for the project, making the Infrastructure and Communities minister a responsible authority (RA) under CEAA. The Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Minister for Transport Canada are also RAs for the Floodway Expansion project due to statutory responsibilities. View the federal public registry for the proposed Floodway Expansion project Under the Manitoba Environment Act, the Floodway Expansion project is considered a Class 2 Water Development and Control undertaking. The Minister of Conservation directed that public hearings regarding the proposed project be held as part of the review process for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Draft Guidelines for the preparation of an EIS for the proposed Floodway Expansion project were released in August 2003, with public comments requested. Manitoba Wildlands, along with several other groups and individuals, provided comments on the Draft Guidelines. View the August 2003 Draft Guidelines (PDF) Download Manitoba Wildlands' October 2003 comments on the Draft Guidelines for Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for the Red River Floodway Expansion Project (DOC)View the February 2004 Final Guidelines (PDF) View the August 2004 proposed Floodway Expansion Project EIS Download Manitoba Wildlands' October 2004 comments on the proposed Floodway Expansion Project EIS (PDF) |
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| In August 2004, the proponents submitted its environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Floodway Expansion project. Manitoba Wildlands submitted comments on the proposed Floodway Expansion project EIS. |  Larger Image |
The Project Administration Team (PAT), consisting of responsible federal and provincial government department representatives, and chaired by Manitoba, is also charged with the review of materials submitted by the proponents, including the EIS. Their comments can be found on the public registry site. The PAT also made an additional request of the proponents in a letter dated November 1, 2004 (PDF) in regards to the project EIS, to emphasize specific information that required attention in the preparation of the MFA supplemental filing. The proponents (the MFA) submitted a supplementary filing on November 29, 2004. The filing consisted of twelve sections, where sections 1 - 12 were reports and information that the proponents did not file at the time of the submission of the EIS, or the MFA had acknowledged that they should have been included in the EIS. Section 13 of the MFA supplemental filing was intended to address PAT and public comments on the original EIS filing. Some of the groups and individuals who provided comments on the EIS, including Manitoba Wildlands, were of the view that the supplementary filing by the MFA was inadequate and did not sufficiently and/or failed to address certain comments and elements of the EIS guidelines, and previous review comments regarding the EIS filing. Accordingly, Manitoba Wildlands and other submitted comments on the November 2004 supplementary filing. View the November 2004 Supplementary Filing to the proposed Red River Floodway Expansion Project EIS Download Manitoba
Wildlands' January 2005 comments on the Supplementary Filing to the
proposed Red River Floodway Expansion Project EIS (PDF) |
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2002-2014