Environmental Impact Assessment

      Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process by which the anticipated effects on the environment of a proposed development or project are measured. If the likely effects are unacceptable, design measures or other relevant mitigation measures can be taken to reduce or avoid those effects. The document from this process is called an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Conawapa Generation Station is a Manitoba Hydro’s possible hydroelectric development at the Conawapa site. The proposed site is located in northern Manitoba, Canada, in the Fox Lake Resource Management Area approximately 30 km downstream of the existing Limestone Generating Station and 70 km upstream of the Nelson River Estuary; and approximately 90 km downstream (east) of Gillam, MB. The Conawapa Generating Station would be a clean and renewable energy project, and would be the largest project of its kind in Manitoba's history. Generating 1,485 megawatts (MW) capacity, the station would produce about 7,000 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually, enough to service the equivalent of 636,000 homes with clean (low carbon footprint,) renewable energy. Conawapa would increase the overall hydroelectric generating capability of the lower Nelson River to over 4,900 MW, and generator units: 10. This environmentally conscious project would reuse water already stored and regulated through the Stephens Lake Reservoir, limiting the estimated flooding to 5 square Kilometers of land. The flooded land would fall almost entirely within the natural banks of the Nelson River. The project design, as much as possible, minimizes environmental effects and enhances project benefits. Studies to date have assessed project effects in the following areas: physical, aquatic, and terrestrial environments; socio-economic conditions, including possible effects to surrounding communities and traditional ways of life. The project, construction is expected to take 8.5 years to bring the first of 10 units on-line, with a total construction period of approximately 11 years     write an Environmental Impact Statement report based on EIA process followed in different Manitoba Hydro’s development and generation projects