Current status

The ministry review of the Waasigan transmission line environmental assessment is available for a 5-week comment period from June 21, 2024, to July 26, 2024.

You can submit comments until 5 p.m. on July 26, 2024.

Learn how to submit your comments.

Project summary

Hydro One is proposing:

  • a new double-circuit 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line between the Lakehead Transformer Station in the Municipality of Shuniah and the Mackenzie Transformer Station in the Town of Atikokan
  • a new single-circuit 230 kV transmission line between the Mackenzie Transformer Station and the Dryden Transformer Station in the City of Dryden

Hydro One has entered an environmental assessment process for this project. This assessment will look at how the transmission lines could impact the natural, social, economic, built and cultural environments.

Learn more on the Hydro One website.

Proponent

Hydro One

Location

Northwestern Ontario (Thunder Bay to Dryden)

Type

Electricity transmission

Reference number

16055

Contact

Stephen Deneault, Environmental Assessment Branch

Project history

Environmental assessment: submitted
Date submitted: November 17, 2023
Expiry of public comment period for ministry review: July 26, 2024

Terms of reference: approved
Date submitted: October 16, 2020
Expiry of public comment period: November 16, 2020
Decision date: February 18, 2022

Environmental assessment

Hydro One submitted its environmental assessment for the Waasigan transmission line project to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for review. This assessment evaluated alternative routes, and the preferred route was selected through a comparative analysis of the alternative routes identified in the terms of reference, which reflected feedback through public consultation.

We posted an invitation to comment on the environmental assessment on this page on November 17, 2023. Comments were accepted until January 19, 2024.

Based on the comments that were submitted during the environmental assessment review period from Indigenous communities, agencies, and affected landowners Hydro One revised its environmental assessment and re-submitted an amended environmental assessment to the ministry on May 1, 2024.

Notice of completion of ministry review

We prepared a review of the environmental assessment for Indigenous community, public, agency and stakeholder comment.

The review of the environmental assessment is not the decision about the project. That decision is made by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks after the comment period is over and the minister has considered all submissions.

The minister’s decision is subject to the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Read the ministry review.

Submit a comment

You can submit comments on the:

  • project
  • amended environmental assessment
  • ministry review

You may also request a hearing by the Ontario Land Tribunal. If you request a hearing, you must state in your submission whether you are requesting a hearing on the whole application or only on specified matters related to the application.

To have your comments or request for a hearing considered by the minister, we must receive your written comments by 5 p.m. on July 26, 2024.

Send your written comments by email to:

Director
Environmental Assessment Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Attention: Stephen Deneault, Project Officer
Email: stephen.deneault@ontario.ca

If you make a submission or request a hearing before 5 p.m. on July 26, 2024, you will be notified of any decisions about this environmental assessment. Otherwise, the project may proceed without further notice to you.

If we do not receive submissions or requests for a hearingd, the project may be approved with no further public notice. This will allow the project to proceed.

Your privacy

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.

Terms of reference

On February 18, 2022, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks approved the amended terms of reference for this environmental assessment.

Notice of approval

Environmental Assessment Act subsection 6(4) approval of terms of reference for the preparation of an environmental assessment.

Proponent: Hydro One Networks Inc.

Undertaking: Waasigan Transmission Line Project

EA file number: EA-03-03-03

As provided for by subsection 6(4) of the Environmental Assessment Act, the amended terms of reference submitted for approval to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks on June 18, 2021 (amended terms of reference) to govern the preparation of an environmental assessment for the above-noted undertaking, is hereby approved.

Pursuant to subsection 6.1(1) of the Environmental Assessment Act, any environmental assessment for the above-noted undertaking submitted to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks pursuant to subsection 6.2(1) of the Environmental Assessment Act, must be prepared in accordance with the terms of reference, as hereby approved.

Reasons

I am satisfied that an environmental assessment prepared in accordance with the amended terms of reference, will be consistent with the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act and the public interest for the following reasons:

  1. The amended terms of reference ensures that the environmental assessment will be completed using a comprehensive public, Indigenous and government agency consultation process that is open and transparent.
  2. The amended terms of references provides adequate rationale for focusing the environmental assessment.
  3. The amended terms of reference provides an appropriate level of detail to confirm that the completed environmental assessment should contain a sufficient level of detail to accurately assess the environmental effects of alternative transmission line routes and the preferred route.
  4. The amended terms of reference sets out a planning process that will ensure the completed environmental assessment will be consistent with the purpose of the Environmental Assessment Act and the public interest.
  5. There are no outstanding issues that have not been addressed in the amended terms of reference or that cannot be addressed during the preparation of the environmental assessment.

Dated the 18th day of February, 2022 at Toronto.

Original signed by:
Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
777 Bay Street, 5th floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 2J3