Contact Info:
Catherine McLennon
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
Ministry of the Environment
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A
Toronto ON  M4V 1L5
Telephone: (416) 314-7222
1-800-461-6290
Fax: (416) 314-8452

Summary

Project Type

Hydro One Networks Inc. has initiated an undertaking under Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act to build an approximately 180 kilometre double-circuit 500 kilovolt transmission line on a widened existing transmission corridor connecting the Bruce Power Facility to Hydro One’s switching station in Milton.

In Ontario, new and expanded transmission lines are subject to the Environmental Assessment Act. Ontario’s Electricity Projects Regulation (Ontario Regulation 116/01), made under the Environmental Assessment Act, stipulates the environmental assessment requirements for electricity projects in Ontario on the basis of the project type (for example, transmission lines, transformer stations, power generation plants) and, in the case of transmission lines, the voltage level and distance traversed. The voltage level and length of the Bruce to Milton Project requires that an application be prepared and submitted under section 5 of the Environmental Assessment Act to the Minister of the Environment for approval.

The need for the Bruce to Milton Project has been established by the Ontario Power Authority. Under the Environmental Assessment Act, an environmental assessment can proceed in accordance with subsections 6(2)(c) and 6.1(3), which allow focusing of the environmental assessment. The undertaking is consistent with provincial land use policy and the “Off-Coal” program targets. It avoids the high cost of stranded power supplies in the Bruce area. The Ontario Power Authority concluded that the Bruce to Milton Project is the only practical alternative to deliver contracted power to the growing Greater Toronto Area. As such, this Terms of Reference has been prepared in accordance with subsections 6(2)(c) and 6.1(3) of the Environmental Assessment Act.

Purpose of the Study

The purpose of the undertaking is to increase the capacity of the Bruce to Milton corridor to transmit electrical power from committed and future sources in the Bruce area to the provincial grid and the Greater Toronto Area by December 1, 2011, or as soon as this can be achieved. This will increase energy security and transmission grid stability for the people of Ontario.

Study Area

The Bruce to Milton Project will comprise a new double-circuit 500 kilovolt line generally adjacent to and overlapping the existing transmission corridor from Bruce to Milton. To the maximum extent possible, the transmission line will make use of the widened existing right-of-way. The reference route for the Bruce to Milton Project crosses through five upper tier municipalities (Bruce, Grey, Dufferin, and Wellington Counties and the Regional Municipality of Halton) and eleven lower tier municipalities (Kincardine, Brockton, Hanover, West Grey, Southgate, Wellington North, East Luther Grand Valley, East Garafraxa, Erin, Halton Hills and Milton).

Study area boundaries will be based on specific indicators as identified in the terms of reference, and will be refined and finalized during the environmental assessment with input from the public, government agencies, other stakeholders and Aboriginal Groups to ensure that areas potentially affected by the Bruce to Milton Project are identified and studied. This is expected to occur early in the study process. The final study area is typically expected to be the expanded right of way for this project but will differ according to the indicator being studied. Potential effects on the natural, socio-economic, cultural, and agricultural environment in the study area will be analyzed and measures will be considered to eliminate, avoid, or mitigate negative effects or enhance positive effects.

Consultation

Consultation Plan

A consultation plan for the environmental assessment has been developed as outlined in the Terms of Reference. Several consultation methods are proposed for implementation during the environmental assessment, including:

• Continuation and regular updating of the project web site;
• Operation of a project hotline;
• Frequently Asked Questions regularly updated on the web site;
• Publication of a Notice of Commencement of the environmental assessment;
• Minimum of three newsletters to be distributed at key points in the environmental assessment process;
• Up to two more rounds of Public Information Centre held in six or seven locations along the reference route for each round;
• Issues workshops as required;
• Property owner meetings;
• Agency, Municipal Advisory Group, and interest groups meetings;
• Aboriginal Group engagement;
• Distribution of the Draft environmental assessment document for review; and
• Publication of a Notice of Submission of the environmental assessment to the Ministry of the Environment.

All comments and input received throughout the environmental assessment from the public, Aboriginal Groups and government review agencies will be documented in a Record of Consultation and will be available as supporting documentation to the environmental assessment. Summary tables will list issues identified and responses where possible. Hydro One will develop an issues resolution strategy for the environmental assessment and will work with all involved to attempt to resolve issues. Where resolution of issues is not possible, this will be noted along with a record of all attempts to resolve the issue. Environmental assessment supporting documentation will also include detailed records of comments received, and materials distributed as part of the environmental assessment consultation.

Consultation During the Preparation of the Terms of Reference

Consultation activities undertaken during the development of the Terms of Reference included the publication of two newsletters, the initiation of the project web site and hotline, and publication of a notice in 16 local newspapers announcing the commencement of the Terms of Reference. One round of Public Information Centres was held in seven communities along the reference route. Aboriginal Groups thought to have a potential interest in the project were also engaged. The draft Terms of Reference was made available on the project web site for public review and comment. Government agency and municipal review sessions were held to gather feedback on the draft Terms of Reference. The results of this consultation has been outlined in the Record of Consultation which will accompany the Terms of Reference when it is submitted for approval.

Public Viewing Locations

The Terms of Reference is being made available for public, Aboriginal Groups, stakeholder and agency review from August 3 to September 4, 2007. Interested parties may inspect the proposed Terms of Reference during normal business hours at the public viewing locations listed below. Comments on the proposed Terms of Reference are due on September 4, 2007 and must be directed to the ministry contact person noted above

The document will also be available on the Hydro One web site (www.HydroOneNetworks.com/BrucetoMilton) or by calling the toll-free Project Hotline at 1-877-345-6799 to receive the proposed Terms of Reference on compact disc.

The Terms of Reference will also be available for viewing at the following locations:

Ministry of the Environment

• Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, 2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A, Toronto, 416-314-8001 or 1-800-461-6290, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Guelph District Office, 1 Stone Road West, 4th Floor, Guelph, 519-826-4255 or 1-800-265-8658, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Halton-Peel District Office, 4145 North Service Road, Suite 300, Burlington 905-319-3847/1-800-335-5906, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Owen Sound District Office, 1580-20th Street East, Owen Sound, 519-371-2901 or 1-800-265-3783, Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Proponent’s Office

• Hydro One Networks Inc., 483 Bay Street, North Tower, 15th Floor, Toronto, 416-345-6799 or 1-877-345-8799, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Municipal Offices

(Please visit the Hydro One project web site for hours of operation and contact information.)

• Municipality of Brockton, 100 Scott Street, Walkerton
• County of Bruce, 30 Park Street, Walkerton
• County of Dufferin, 51 Zina Street, Orangeville
• Township of East Garafraxa, 374028 6th Line, Amaranth, R.R. #3, Orton
• Township of East Luther Grand Valley, 5 Main Street North, Grand Valley
• Town of Erin, 5864 Wellington Road 24, R.R. #2, Hillsburgh
• County of Grey, 595 9th Avenue East, Owen Sound
• Regional Municipality of Halton, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville
• Town of Halton Hills, 1 Halton Hills Drive, Halton Hills
• Town of Hanover, 341 10th Street, Hanover
• Municipality of Kincardine, 1475 Concession 5, R.R. #5, Kincardine
• Town of Milton, 43 Brown Street, Milton
• Township of Southgate, R.R. #1, 185667 Grey Road 9, Dundalk
• County of Wellington, 74 Woolwich Street, Guelph
• Township of Wellington North, Box 125, 7490 Sideroad 7 West, Kenilworth
• Township of West Grey, 402813 Grey Road, R.R. #2, Durham

Public Libraries

(Please visit the Hydro One project web site for hours of operation and contact information.)

• Bruce County Public Library - Tiverton Branch, 56 King Street, Tiverton
• Bruce County Public Library - Walkerton Branch, 253 Durham Street, Walkerton
• Grand Valley Public Library, 4 Amaranth Street East, Grand Valley
• Halton Hills Public Library - Acton Branch, 17 River Street, Acton
• Halton Hills Public Library - Georgetown Branch, 9 Church Street, Georgetown
• Hanover Public Library, 451 10th Avenue, Hanover
• Milton Public Library, 45 Bruce Street, Milton
• Southgate-Ruth Hargrove Memorial Public Library, 90 Main Street East, Dundalk
• Wellington County Public Library - Erin Branch, 14 Boland Drive, Erin
• Wellington County Public Library - Hillsburgh Branch, 98B Main Street, Hillsburgh
• Wellington County Public Library - Mount Forest Branch, 118 Main Street, Mount Forest
• West Grey Public Library, P.O. Box 706, 240 Garafraxa Street North, Durham

For further information about the proposed project please contact:

Hydro One Community Relations Project Hotline: 1-877-345-6799 (or 416-345-6799)
Email: community.relations@HydroOne.com
Fax: 416-345-6984

Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in all submissions become part of the public record files for this matter and can be released, if requested, to any person.

Note: If approved by the Minister, the Terms of Reference will provide a framework for preparing the EA, and also serve as a benchmark for reviewing the EA. Following the Minister's approval of the Terms of Reference, the proponent is required to deal only with matters falling within the provisions of the approved Terms of Reference.