Floodway Expansion Management Authority, Red River Floodway Expansion, Ad

Notice of Environment Act Proposal

Manitoba Conservation has received a proposal pursuant to The Environment Act for the following operation and invites public participation in the review process:

RED RIVER FLOODWAY EXPANSION (FILE: 4967.00)

Project Description:
A Project Description has been filed by the Floodway Expansion Management Authority for the expansion of the Red River Floodway. The project would increase the capacity of the floodway from 1700 cubic metres per second to 3960 cubic metres per second. This would increase the level of flood protection for the City of Winnipeg from a one in 90 flood event to a one in 700 flood event.

Project components would include:

enlargement of the floodway channel by a combination of widening and deepening;
increasing the freeboard on the West Dyke of the floodway;
modification or replacement of bridges over the channel;
enlargement of the outlet structure and associated works near Lockport; and
a number of other smaller components involving the modification or replacement of water supply and utility and drainage infrastructure located along or across the floodway channel.

The project would also involve the resumption of a former dredging program near the mouth of the Red River, and it could include the use of the floodway to control summer river levels in the City of Winnipeg.

Public comments on the Project Description are invited until October 14, 2003. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the project will be filed at a later date and will be available for public review.

Public Hearing:
Project definition and environmental assessment activities are ongoing. A cooperative environmental assessment process will be undertaken by Canada and Manitoba for this project, including a public hearing.

Participant Assistance Program:
A participant assistance program will be available, with a cap of $100,000. Application forms are available from the Environmental Approvals Branch or from the Branch's website on the Publication and Forms web page. For more information on the Participant Assistance Program, contact Larry Strachan at 204-945-7071. Applications for Participant Assistance are to be filed by October 14, 2003.

Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines:
Draft Guidelines for the Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement are available for review along with the Project Description. Public comments on the Draft Guidelines are invited until October 14, 2003.

Anyone likely to be affected by the above operation and who wishes to make a representation either for or against the proposal should contact the Department, in writing or by E-mail (bwebb@gov.mb.ca).

Further information is available at the following Public Registries:
Conservation & Environment Library, 123 Main St. (Union Station) Main Floor, Winnipeg
Centennial Public Library, 251 Donald St., Winnipeg
Legislative Library, 200 Vaughan St., Winnipeg
Manitoba Eco-Network, 2nd Floor, 70 Albert St., Winnipeg
Selkirk & St. Andrews Regional Library, 303 Main St., Selkirk, Manitoba
Jake Epp Public Library, 255 Elmdale St., Steinbach, Manitoba
or by contacting Bruce Webb at 204-945-7021.

Public Registry information will also be available from the Environmental Approvals Branch website on the Public Registries Available On-line web page at www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/envapprovals/registries/index.html.

Information submitted in response to this proposal is considered public information and will be made available to the proponent and placed on the public registry in accordance with The Environment Act.

Environmental Approvals
Manitoba Conservation
123 Main Street, Suite 160
Winnipeg, MB R3C 1A5
Toll Free: 1-800-282-8069 ask for ext. 7021
Fax: (204) 945-5229