Area residents, ATCO Electric, and the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) met in St. Paul from Nov. 5 to 8 to discuss a proposition to make expansions to an existing power substation, and build a 35 km line through the County of St. Paul.
Two routes for the line were suggested, a preferred east lying route, and an alternative westerly route, both going northward from the substation near the town of St. Paul. Both routes were part of the cross-examination during the hearing.
Lawyers acting on behalf of county residents living on the proposed routes, and lawyers acting on behalf of ATCO cross-examined each other's cases at the hearing, to find which route would offer the least impact.
The hearing was presided over by the AUC, a quasi-judicial board with statutory powers meant to ensure responsible, fair, and public interest approved utility services. The AUC acts as a final decision maker, and adjudicator of all sides of the discussion, working towards a decision in accordance with the public interest.
The hearing thoroughly covered issues such as the social, environmental, and financial impacts of building a power line through the area. Of particular interest and concern were the impacts on wildlife and ecology in the areas, as well as the quality of life of county residents.
Ray Boven, the senior vice president of projects with ATCO Electric, said the hearing looked into relevant issues regarding the concerns of landowners who live along both of the proposed routes of the line.
“There are good questions, and a good discussion on the project going on," said Boven. “We respect what concerns are coming forward, and know it's important to get public confidence in how the line will be constructed. An open, public process is good for us, good for county residents, and good for the province as a whole."
Boven explained there is already a need for the power line, and it must be built at some point. The hearing was aimed at finding the best way to build it with the least impact on the area.
He said ATCO has been in contact with county residents whose property will be affected by the construction of the line for almost three years now.
“We got a variety of reactions. People at the hearing have concerns, and in some cases oppose the proposed routes for the line. There's a wide range of views."
Boven said if the commission rejects the proposal, it will incorporate what's been learned from the hearing into designing a better route for the line, with fewer social, financial, and environmental impacts.
Coralee Beaulieau, a landowner from the County of St. Paul in attendance at the hearing said she appreciates the support of all the other landowners at the hearing, as well as the supporters and friends of other affected landowners.
“We all have a similar view on the land and how to preserve it. I'd like to thank Debby Bishop, our legal counsel, and Cleve Werschler, and the other wildlife consultants, on (stressing) the importance of wildlife and waterfowl in our area."
Beaulieu added, “When there's so much work done from aerial photos and in an office, it's refreshing to see people . . . making the extra effort to go out and research the areas in person, on the ground himself. ATCO relies too much on doing their research at their desks, when more has to be done on the ground right there to assess the impacts."
In terms of when a final decision on the matter will be made, Geoff Scotton, a senior communications advisor for the AUC said, “When the hearing ends, we wait on an update from ATCO, after which we close the record. After that, the panel makes a decision within 90 days. We expect to have (a decision) by mid-February."
Scotton said the decision could be one of three options - acceptance, denial, or acceptance with conditions required to be met by ATCO.
