HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-119-06
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REPORT
PLANNING SERVICES
Meeting:
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Report #:
PSD-119-06
File #: PLN 26.14
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By-law #:
Date:
Monday, December 11, 2006
Subject:
ENFIELD TRANSFORMER STATION- CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT UPDATE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1. THAT Report PSD-119-06 be received for information;
2. THAT Hydro One be requested to provide a presentation to Council and meet with
affected residents at a location within Clarington prior to finalizing the Notice of
Completion of the Environmental Study Report;
3. THAT Hydro One and the Ministry of the Environment be forwarded a copy of Report
PSD-119-06; and
4. THAT all interested parties listed in this Report and any delegation be advised of
Council's decision.
Submitted by:
Da i rome, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.
Director of Planning Services
Reviewed bY~~-)~--'~
Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
FL *DJC*sh
November 27, 2006
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830
REPORT NO.: PSD-119-06 PAGE 2
1.0 BACKGROUND
1.1 Hydro One initiated an Environmental Assessment for the addition of a transformer
station in the Enfield/north Harmony area in May of 2006 (Attachment 1). Prior to that
time representatives of Hydro One had met on a preliminary basis with staff to obtain
zoning information and identify environmental issues.
1.2 The Environmental Assessment’s purpose was to identify the alternative sites and the
potential environment impacts and mitigation, and identify the preferred site.
1.3 Clarington staff have not been consulted on the preferred site selection and the
Environmental Study Report does not provide the rating and evaluation of the 12 sites.
1.4 Due to the overlap of the study boundary along the Oshawa/Clarington Townline the two
Public Information Centres were held in Oshawa outside the affected area of the study.
Clarington residents have indicated that they were not informed of these meetings in the
way that the Environmental Study Report indicates they were.
2.0 PROJECT NEED
2.1 Hydro One's Wilson, Thornton, Whitby and Cherrywood Transformer Stations have
reached their capacity to reliably supply customers in the Region of Durham. The need
for additional transmission capacity was identified in a joint planning study between
Hydro One Networks and the Local Distribution Utilities serving Durham Region. The
new electrical transmission facilities will accommodate the anticipated electricity load
growth in north Oshawa and improve reliability of electricity supply to customers in these
areas.
3.0 PREFERRED SITE
3.1 Following a consultation process with members of the public, public interest groups,
municipal governments and elected officials, Hydro One has selected a preferred site —
north of Concession Road 7 between Langmaid Road and Grandview Street North in
the Municipality of Clarington (Attachment 2).
The transformer station, will convert the 230 kV transmission voltage to 44 kV for
distribution to homes and businesses in Oshawa and Clarington. The transformer
station will have some visual impact (Attachment 3).
Proposed Transmission Facilities
3.2
The station project involves the construction of a 230 kV transformer in the vicinity of
Harmony Road North and Enfield Road, adjacent to the existing 230 kV transmission
corridor. The transformer station will convert the 230 kV transmission voltage to 44 kV
for distribution to local homes and businesses. The major equipment needed will be:
Two 230/44 kV transformers
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REPORT NO.: PSD-119-06 PAGE 3
44 kV switching facilities
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Associated buswork
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Eight 44 kV distribution feeders
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Alternative Sites
3.3
Initially, 12 potential sites were identified in the study area. Following an assessment of
technical and environmental constraints, the number of potential sites decreased to
seven. Of the seven sites, only Site B was potentially available for acquisition, and Site
A was located on the Hydro One property. Only the 2 sites are evaluated in the
Environmental Study Report.
Assessment of Alternatives
3.4
Site selection was based on:
Availability of property
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Proximity to residences
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Location and proximity to existing hydro lines
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Effects on natural features
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Effects on social environment
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Technical and maintenance considerations
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Cost
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4.0 NEXT STEPS
The planning and analysis supporting the preferred site is documented in Hydro One's
Draft Environmental Study Report (ESR). The ESR was made available for a 30-day
public review period starting from November 6, 2006. Comments to Hydro One are due
by December 5, 2006.
5.0 COMMENTS
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5.1 Staff have made preliminary comments to Hydro One to meet the December 5
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deadline and informed them that Council will be receiving this report on December 11,
a copy of this report will be sent to Hydro One and the Ministry of Environment.
5.2 Staff have reviewed the contents and methodology set out in the ESR and consulted
with the Conservation Authority. Unfortunately, the ongoing consultation between
Hydro One, the Municipality and residents was lacking during the process. While in the
end the conclusions may be appropriate, due to the inadequate public review process,
lack of consultation with the Municipality and the absence of a full discussion on the site
selection methodology in the ESR, it is unclear to staff and the public how the site
selection moved from 12 possible locations to the two that were evaluated.
5.3 The items of concern that staff have identified with regard to the ESR and heard from the
residents are :
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lack of notification by mail to residents that are affected.
Attachment 1
To Report PSD-119-06
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Attachment 2
To Report PSD-119-06
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Figure 4.1: Location of the Alternative Proposed Enfield TS Sites Within the Study Area
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Figure 4.2: Site A and B Locations Relative to Hydro One Property
Attachment 3
To Report PSD-119-06
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REPORT NO.: PSD-119-06 PAGE 4
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better explanation within the report as to how the Gartner Lee study of 1978 of
environmental impacts has been updated and the new findings.
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discussion of how stray voltage may/may not affect breeding livestock.
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updating of the agricultural inventory that was carried out for the ESR.
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Section 4, site selection appears to be predicated on property availability rather
than environmental impacts. A chart of all 12 sites and how it was narrowed to
the two sites would typically be included in an ESR.
5.4 Due to the lack of communication with both the Municipality and affected residents, we
are suggesting Hydro One provide Council with a presentation and hold meeting(s) with
the affected residents in the Municipality of Clarington to provide a better understanding
of the environmental impacts and answer questions that the residents have before filing
the Notice of Completion for this ESR.
Attachments:
Attachment 1- Figure 2.1: Project Study Area
Attachment 2 - Figure 4.1: Location of Alternative Proposed Enfield TS Sites
Within the Study Area (page 23 and 24 from the ESR)
Attachment 3 - Figure 1.2: Photograph of typical 230-kV/44-kv Transformer Station
Interested parties to be advised of Council's decision:
Heather Zhang, Hydro One
Ministry of the Environment
Environmental Assessment & Approvals Branch
Jim Sullivan
Deb Vice
Protect the Ridges
Libby Racansky
Friends of Farewell Creek
David J. Spencer