A proposed private power project could see Glacier Creek (pictured here) and nearby Howser Creek developed and diverted for power production. Project proponent, Axor Inc. recenty submitted further information to the BC Environmental Assessment Office in a bid to see the project continue on its way through the environmental assessment process. Nelson Post photo.

One year after they were asked to go back to the drawing board and do more research, proponents of the controversial Glacier-Howser power project have submitted their findings to B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).

The environmental assessment process for the project was suspended last September by the EAO after it was decided that the proponent, Montreal-based Axor Inc. needed to do more research on potential impacts to the genetically unique and blue-listed bull trout that inhabit Glacier and Howser Creeks upon which the project is planned.

The West Kootenay Eco Society (WKES) contacted Kathy Eichenberger, the project assessment director for the Glacier-Howser project last week, who confirmed that Axor  had recently submitted the additional information requested by the EAO.

“Basically, it’s at the working group right now and the working group has the power to say ‘this is not good enough,’ and send it back, or say that it’s OK,” said Raelynn Gibson of the WKES.

Gibson was told that if the information submitted by Axor is sufficient, the project would continue on from where it left off in the process, which was halfway through the 180-day assessment period.

She said the only way there will be a second public consultation process on the project is if there is any significant redesign or alteration to the project’s design.

“We’re hoping that’s the case,” Gibson said.

The Nelson Post tried to reach Eichenberger for comment, but she was not available as of press time.

Nelson-Creston MLA, Michell Mungall has been working with the WKES on the issue and says she’s also hoping for further consultation on the project, and one that’s more “transparent and meaningful” than the previous public consultation in June of 2009.

During the initial public consult in 2009, Mungall and the WKES pushed for a public meeting on the Glacier-Howser project for Nelson, but the EAO and Axor held a meeting in Kaslo – the nearest population centre to the project.

More than 1,000 people turned out and protested angrily against the project at the Kaslo public meeting.

“We want to learn from our experience last summer and we want to see a transparent and meaningful public consultation process,” Mungall said. “The EAO has a responsibility to direct Axor to put forward a process that’s meaningful.”

If another meeting is held, Mungall feels there will once again me “massive public involvement.

“There needs to be massive public involvement,” she said. “This project is going to impact all of us throughout the region. That area is part of our region’s economy, and it’s also one of the reasons why many of us live here. So we’re all stakeholders in this and we need to be involved and have our say. The government needs to be open to hearing it.”

Gibson said the WKES has no predetermined course of action on the project, and they’ll make a decision on that after reading what’s being put forward by the proponent.

“We have to give it a fair read, and from there we’ll ascertain what the strategy is,” Gibson said.

The Nelson Post attempted to contact Axor project coordinator, Simon Gourdeau, but he was out of town on business and could not be reached.

The 100 Megawatt project would see the diversion of  a total of five creeks that run from high in the Purcell Mountains near Meadow Creek into Duncan Lake, as well as about 16 kilometres of 4.5-metre-high tunnels blasted through the mountainsides and about 90 kilometres of power lines that would carry the electricity generated to a substation near Invermere in the East Kootenay.

(Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Axor’s initial application was not rejected by the EAO. The EAO suspended the environmental assessment process and asked Axor to gather more information on potential impacts to the bull trout).