Glacier-Howser project fails environmental assessment

River diversion proposal gets shelved a second time — Axor’s application for a Glacier-Howser IPP suspended by Province for insufficient data.

The controversial Glacier-Howser independent power proposal, which would divert four Kootenay creeks and build transmission lines and roads through 92 kilometres of Kootenay wilderness, has been suspended by the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office—for a second time.

Citing lack of data on fisheries and habitat impacts, the EA office suspended the application made by Axor Group Inc. Axor failed to provide sufficient data evaluating the predicted changes to physical habitat resulting from the diversion of water. As well, the Quebec corporation failed to provide a report evaluating the impacts to fish, or to provide a fish and fish habitat compensation plan. [Read more]

Last call for Glacier-Howser comments

Deadline July 29 –

By Trevor Hamre.

Recently, the Province has had 3 environmental assessment meetings in the East & West Kootenays around the Glacier/Howser ruin-of-the-river IPP project. I would like to officially comment on both the meetings and my concerns around the Economic, Social, & Environmental costs of this particular project. Combined, roughly 1400 people attended these meetings and not one person spoke positively about the projects in a total of 9 hours of public questions and comments. The Provincial and Federal environmental assessment team had very few answers for the public and directed most of the public’s questions to the proponent’s representatives for the project. Why you may ask? Simply put, because the government assessment group relied completely on the data provided by the proponent with absolutely no independent assessments of this project whatsoever. Further, if the project goes ahead the government will rely on the company to monitor minimum water flows as well, even though their profit is linked to water use and the same company providing the info will benefit from an exclusive energy contract with the government via BC Hydro. [Read more]

River diversion is not 'run of river'

Save the Kootenay rivers and creeks.

Located just north of Kaslo in the heart of the Kootenays, the proposed 125 MW Glacier/Howser hydro project would divert up to 80% of the mean annual flow from Glacier, Howser, Birnam, Behrman and Suck Creeks into 16 kilometers of tunnels and pipes that will be drilled through adjacent mountains. Unlike most other projects, rather than returning the water downstream to the original creek beds, it would be diverted directly into the Duncan Reservoir. Biologists are concerned that local fish populations, including endangered bull trout, and vital riparian areas will be negatively affected. [Read more]

Macdonald speaks out for local control

Press release –

Message to Ministers loud and clear: people reject the Glacier Howser power project.

A boisterous and determined crowd of East Kootenay residents gathered Thursday night in Invermere to state their opposition to AXOR’s proposed Glacier Howser river-diversion power project which will divert the water from four creeks in the West Kootenay for power production. The power produced will then be transmitted by a new transmission line that will bisect key wilderness areas across the Purcell mountains into the Invermere substation in the East Kootenay. [Read more]

Protest garnered large turnout at Glacier-Howser hydro project meeting

They gathered with signs, adorned themselves with costumes and marched loudly through downtown Invermere chanting phrases like “No dam way!” and “Axor go away!” It was a visible and very vocal message from a community whose once-apathetic nature is clearly being shed.

The cause of yesterday’s (June 25) public display of displeasure is a proposed independent power project slated for construction on the west side of the Purcell Mountains. [Read more]

Thoughts on Glacier-Howser meeting

Thoughts on the Invermere EAO meeting June 25/09.

Attending the Environmental Assessment meeting Thursday evening as part of the public process necessary for the approval or denial of permits was interesting to say the least.

The Axor Group and the EAO, both provincial and Federal agencies, were in attendance along with about 50 + protest individuals, both local and imported. Unfortunately, this meeting coincided with the awards ceremony at the high school so a very limited number of local citizens ( 15 ? individuals) who were not part of the protest group, were able to attend. It is also possible that the citizens of Invermere and area are not that concerned about this particular project could be another explanation. [Read more]

Protest expected at Glacier-Howser open house

As Columbia Valley residents begin to amass in opposition to another significant development proposed in the Purcell Mountains, one would be forgiven for feeling a sense of deja vu.

While a proposed run of the river hydroelectric project has nothing, directly, to do with a controversial resort development proposed in the Jumbo Valley, many of the same concerns are being voiced. [Read more]

Glacier/Howser power project begins limited public consultation process

Starting next week, local residents will have their only opportunity to comment on the proposed Glacier/Howser power project as Purcell Green Power Inc. undergoes a project review to receive an environmental assessment certificate. Since the passage of Bill 30 (the Ashlu River bill) in 2006, local governments no longer have a say in the placement of private river-diversion power projects leaving local residents with only the faulty environmental assessment process to provide input.

“I feel that it is wrong that public input is now limited to this single forum, but unfortunately, this all that we have,” declared Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald. “Few that have had experience with the environmental assessment process would say that it is adequate as a method of public consultation.” [Read more]