Canadian Hydro Developers (CHD) has issued an update on the hearings conducted by Alberta's Energy and Utilities Board and the Natural Resources Conservation Board on the 80MW Dunvegan hydro project.
The hearings, which commenced on 2 October 2001, have been adjourned until 17 June 2002, in order to allow CHD to provide additional information requested by the Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and Alberta’s Department of Environment (AENV).
The adjournment is expected to delay CHD’s completion of the hydro project by up to twelve months.
DFO and AENV have requested detailed physical and computer hydraulic modelling of the proposed hydroelectric facility, in order to demonstrate how the facility accommodates the expected movement of fish.
CHD says it had expected this modelling would be required after obtaining initial regulatory approvals, as is usual for a project of this nature. It has now undertaken to provide this additional information so that the environmental reviews can be completed.