Current status

Environmental assessment: approved, December 16, 2009

Project summary

The purpose of the undertaking is to construct a new double-circuit 500 kilovolt line between the Bruce Power Complex, near Kincardine and Hydro One’s existing Milton Switching Station located in the Town of Milton.

Proponent

Hydro One Networks Incorporated

Location

Kincardine to Milton

Type

Electricity

Reference number

07031

Contact

Environmental Approvals Branch

Project history

Environmental assessment: approved
Date submitted: December 1, 2008
Expiry of public comment period: January 30, 2009
Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: April 17, 2009
Decision date: December 16, 2009

Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: August 3, 2007
Expiry of public comment period: September 4, 2007
Decision date: April 4, 2008

Environmental assessment

Hydro One Networks Incorporated sought approval under the Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) for the Bruce to Milton Transmission Reinforcement Project. The purpose of the project is to implement the Ontario Power Authority recommendation to construct a new double-circuit 500 kilovolt line between the Bruce Power Complex, near Kincardine and Hydro One’s existing Milton Switching Station located in the Town of Milton.

The environmental assessment (EA) process was summarized in a report, which was submitted to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on December 1, 2008 for formal review and approval, in accordance with section 6.2(1) of the EAA, and the approved terms of reference. The first comment period, which lasted for seven weeks, was from December 5, 2008 to January 27, 2009. Comments about the EA and the proposed undertaking were accepted.

Following the end of the first comment period, MOE staff prepared the ministry review. A notice of completion of the ministry review was published on March 13, 2009. The five-week public comment period on the ministry review expired on April 17, 2009, during which time any comments about the proposed undertaking, the EA, and the ministry review could have been made. Also during that time, requests for the Minister to refer the application to a hearing were allowed.

On November 27, 2009, the Minister of the Environment approved the project. Approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council was given on December 16, 2009.

Learn more on the notice of approval.

Terms of reference

Project type

In Ontario, new and expanded transmission lines are subject to the EAA. Ontario’s Electricity Projects Regulation (Ontario Regulation 116/01), made under the EAA, 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 EAA 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 EAA, 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 EAA.

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.