East-West Tie Transmission Project
Project information about this environmental assessment.
Current status
On March 21, 2019, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approved the environmental assessment for this project, subject to conditions.
Project summary
The East-West Tie transmission project is a proposed 450 km double-circuit 230 kV transmission line connecting the Lakehead Transfer Station in the Municipality of Shuniah near the city of Thunder Bay to the Wawa Transfer Station located east of the Municipality of Wawa. It will also connect to the Marathon Transformer Station.
The transmission line will consist of:
- transmission structures
- insulators
- conductors
- overhead shield wires
- optic fibre ground wire and grounding
The proposed project generally parallels the existing East-West Tie transmission corridor but avoids some sensitive features crossed by the existing line, including Pukaskwa National Park. The proposed right-of-way (cleared area) for the project is expected to be up to 64 m (210 ft) wide.
Project construction is expected to take approximately 26 months. Temporary and permanent access roads will be required for construction, operation and maintenance. Temporary storage yards, construction offices, laydown yards and construction camps will also be required.
Construction activities include:
- site preparation
- material distribution
- foundation installation
- assembly and erection of transmission structures
- conductor installation
- clean-up and reclamation
- testing and commissioning
Maintenance activities will include:
- regular inspection of the transmission line and infrastructure
- vegetation management along the right-of-way
The project will be operated on a continuous basis for an indeterminate time period. Retirement (or decommissioning) is not anticipated.
Learn more on the East-West Tie transmission project website.
Proponent
NextBridge Infrastructure LP
Location
Wawa to Thunder Bay
Type
Electricity transmission
Reference number
13136
Contact
Antonia Testa, Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
Project history
Environmental assessment: approved
Date submitted: February 15, 2018
Expiry of public comment period: March 29, 2018
Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: November 16, 2018
Decision date: March 21, 2019
Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: February 28, 2014
Expiry of public comment period: March 31, 2014
Decision date: August 28, 2014
Environmental assessment
On July 25, 2017, NextBridge Infrastructure LP submitted an environmental assessment report for the East-West Tie transmission project. The report was available for a seven week comment period ending September 12, 2017.
On February 15, 2018, NextBridge submitted an amended environmental assessment report to address comments received from Indigenous communities, government agencies and members of the public. The amended report was available for review and comment from February 16 to March 29, 2018.
On October 12, 2018, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks completed its review of the amended environmental assessment report. The ministry review was made available for a five-week comment period ending November 16, 2018.
On March 21, 2019, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, with concurrence from the Lieutenant Governor in Council, gave approval to proceed with the undertaking, subject to conditions.
Read the Order in Council and notice of approval.
Notice of completion of ministry review
An invitation to comment on the environmental assessment for the proposed East-West Tie transmission project.
NextBridge Infrastructure LP (NextBridge) submitted an amended environmental assessment (EA) to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (ministry) for the construction and operation of an approximately 450 kilometre, 230 kilovolt transmission line that will connect the Lakehead Transformer Station in the Municipality of Shuniah to the Wawa Transformer Station located east of the Municipality of Wawa.
The ministry has prepared a review of the amended EA for public and agency comment. The ministry review of the amended EA does not make a decision about the EA or the undertaking. That decision is made by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks after the comment period is over and consideration of all submissions.
You can submit comments on the undertaking, the amended environmental assessment, and the ministry review. You may also request a hearing by the Environmental Review Tribunal. If you request a hearing you must state in your submission, whether you are requesting a hearing on the whole application or on only specified matters related to the application.
How to get the information you need
You can inspect the amended EA and the Ministry Review during normal business hours at the following locations:
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1st Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
Thunder Bay District Office
435 James Street South, Suite 331
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7E 6S7
Copies are also available for viewing at the following offices and locations:
NextBridge Infrastructure
390 Bay Street, Suite 1720
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 2Y2
Township of Dorion
170 Dorion Loop Road
Dorion, Ontario
P0T 1K0
Township of Nipigon
52 Front Street
Nipigon, Ontario
P0T 2J0
Town of Marathon
4 Hemlo Drive
P.O. Bag TM
Marathon, Ontario
P0T 2E0
Township of Red Rock
42 Salls Street
Red Rock, Ontario
P0T 2P0
Township of Schreiber
204 Alberta Street
Schreiber, Ontario
P0T 2S0
Municipality of Shuniah
420 Leslie Avenue
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7A 1X8
Township of Terrace Bay
1 Selkirk Avenue
Terrace Bay, Ontario
P0T 2W0
City of Thunder Bay
500 Donald Street East
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7E 5V3
Municipality of Wawa
40 Broadway Avenue
Wawa, Ontario
P0S 1K0
Township of White River
102 Durham Street
White River, Ontario
P0M 3G0
Brodie Resource Library, Thunder Bay Public Library
216 Brodie Street South
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7E 1C2
County Park Branch, Thunder Bay Public Library
1020 Dawson Road
Thunder Bay, Ontario
P7B 1K6
Dorion Public Library
170 Dorion Loop Road
Dorion, Ontario
P0T 1K0
Nipigon Public Library
52 Front Street
Nipigon, Ontario
P0T 2J0
Red Rock Public Library
42 Salls Street
Red Rock, Ontario
P0T 2P0
Schreiber Public Library
314 Scotia Street
Schreiber, Ontario
P0T 2S0
Terrace Bay Public Library
13 Selkirk Avenue Terrace Bay, Ontario
P0T 2W0
Marathon Public Library
22 Peninsula Road
Marathon, Ontario
P0T 2E0
Wawa Public Library
40 Broadway Avenue
Wawa, Ontario
P0S 1K0
White River Public Library
123 Superior Street
White River, Ontario
P0M 3G0
The ministry review is also available on the ministry’s website.
Please ensure your written comments are received by November 16, 2018.
Send written comments to:
Director
Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 1st Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M4V 1P5
Attention: Adam Wright, Special Project Officer
adam.wright@ontario.ca
Tel: 416-314-3352 Toll-free: 1-800-461-6290 Fax: 416-314-8452
Be sure to express your views
If you make a submission or request a hearing before the above date, you will be notified of any decisions about this amended environmental assessment. Otherwise, the undertaking may proceed without further notice to you.
If no submissions or requests for a hearing are received, the undertaking may be approved with no further public notice. This will allow the undertaking to proceed.
All personal information included in a submission—such as name, address, telephone number and property location—is collected, maintained and disclosed by the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for the purpose of transparency and consultation. The information is collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act or is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public as described in section 37 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Personal information you submit will become part of a public record that is available to the general public unless you request that your personal information remain confidential. For more information, please contact the Project Officer or the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Freedom of Information and Privacy Coordinator at
Terms of reference
The Minister of the Environment and Climate Change approved the terms of reference for this project on August 28, 2014.