The Lower Mattagami River project includes:
- Replacement of the existing Smoky Falls powerhouse with the construction of a three-unit powerhouse
- Decommissioning of the existing Smoky Falls generating station (GS)
- Construction of a new approach and tailrace channel at Smoky Falls GS
- Rehabilitation of existing water retaining structures at Smoky Falls GS
- Single unit extensions to the existing powerhouses at Little Long, Harmon and Kipling generating stations
- Establishment or new/upgraded electrical transmission facilities
The project will provide an incremental capacity of 471 MW of renewable resource power, and will promote more
efficient operations and use of water through the four generating stations.
Hatch Energy, acting as Owner’s Representative, is presently completing environmental services for the replacement of a
52-MW generating station (Smoky Falls GS) with a 270-MW generating station and expansion of three generation stations
(Little Long, Harmon and Kipling GSs) of one unit (90 MW) each.
Hatch Energy’s scope of services includes providing environmental expertise during the preparation and construction of
the project. The project was approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act in 1994 with 24 terms and
conditions of approval. Hatch Energy’s services also include assisting in satisfying these terms and conditions, fulfilling
numerous commitments in the environmental assessment (EA) and complying with the regulatory requirements and
management of all of these requirements. Hatch Energy is also responsible for preparation of the design-build contract
documents.
In the Fall of 2006, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in conjunction with the Canadian Environmental Assessment
Agency (CEAA) determined that a comprehensive study report (CSR) in accordance with the Canadian
Environmental Assessment Act was required for the project. Hatch Energy’s scope of services for the CSR was based on the
existing work breakdown structure to meet provincial EA and regulatory requirements. More specifically, Hatch Energy’s
scope of work for the CSR involved the following:
- Data gathering and gap analysis
- Documentation of existing conditions
- Determination of valued ecosystem components
- Determination of potential effects and proposed mitigation measures
- Development of monitoring and follow-up plans
