As the Proponent, Webequie First Nation is leading the environmental assessment and engineering study with the assistance of our technical experts.  This Project is an important project to our community, and we want to ensure that the impacts – both positive and negative – are thoroughly reviewed to make sure that our community members understand the environmental, socio-economic and cultural impacts of the Supply Road before making a decision.  Throughout the planning and engagement process, the Webequie Project Team will ensure that all project activities will be done according to the Elders’ guiding principles and the Webequie First Nation three-tier approach to Indigenous community engagement.

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a process to predict environmental effects of proposed activities before they are carried out. An environmental assessment i) identifies potential adverse environmental effects; ii) proposes measures to mitigate adverse environmental effects; iii) predicts whether there will be significant adverse environmental effects, after mitigation measures are implemented; and iv) includes a follow-up program to verify the accuracy of the environmental assessment and the effectiveness of the mitigation measures.

The Project will be going through the Ontario Environmental Assessment Process.  The first step is to prepare a Terms of Reference.  It is the “work plan” for the Environmental Assessment and describes what will be done during the environmental assessment to understand any effects of the Supply Road on the environment and communities (natural, social, economic, and cultural).  When the Terms of Reference is approved by the Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Webequie First Nation, with our technical experts, will complete the Environmental Assessment.

The Webequie Supply Road may need to go through the federal process under the Impact Assessment Act, 2019.  To determine whether the Project requires a Federal environmental assessment, Webequie First Nation will prepare and submit a Project Description to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada.  The Agency will then issue Impact Statement (IS) guidelines for Webequie First Nation to use when preparing the federal environmental assessment.  Similar to the provincial process, the IS guidelines serve as the federal “work plan” for the environmental assessment process.

If both Environmental Assessment processes are required, then Webequie Supply Road will undergo a Coordinated Environmental Assessment process, which is done to prevent or limit any overlap of the project activities.

Throughout the Environmental Assessment process, our technical experts will be conducting field surveys to observe the wildlife and environment within the Supply Road study area.  Surveys include observing wildlife, fish and vegetation, collecting water samples, surveying types of soils as well as engaging with community members on traditional land and resource uses and cultural areas.

Our community will use the Environmental Assessment as an information gathering tool so that we can make an informed decision.  We want to fully understand what the good and bad effects are of the Supply Road on our community, environment, and culture, before deciding whether to go ahead with the construction of the Supply Road.

There will be plenty of opportunities for community members to participate in the Project during and after the Study.  Community members will be able to work with our technical experts in the field to conduct wildlife and vegetation surveys for the Environmental Assessment.  If the Supply Road is built, community members will have the opportunity to conduct environmental monitoring, operate and work at camp facilities, operate heavy equipment and participate in the project in many other ways.  During operation of the road, there will be opportunities for maintenance and security of the Supply Road, as well as possibly operating commercial businesses along the road.

HOW WILL THE DIFFERENCES IN VEGETATION TYPES (I.E. STRING BOGS VERSUS MUSKEGS) BE ACCOUNTED FOR IN PLANNING , CONSTRUCTING AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE?

A vegetation study will be done to understand vegetation that may be affected by the Webquie Supply Road, as well as the species that inhabit those vegetation types. As part of the study, surveys will be conducted to collect information on various vegetation types, such as string bogs and muskeg. The goal of these surveys is to identify and consider the effects of the Project on vegetation, as well as to provide recommendations for minimizing negative environmental, health, social, project constructability and economic effects related to vegetation during construction and operation/maintenance of the Project.

Potential effects to Upland, Wetland and Riparian Landcovers/Habitats will be assessed by determining the removals of landcover types because of the Project, including quality of vegetation available to wildlife species. The Assessment will also examine potential effects to any known or assumed critical life cycle role the habitats provide in the study areas.

To learn more about how the Project Team is planning to study vegetation review the Fact Sheet and Study Plan Summary.

HOW TALL WITH THE ROAD BE IN COMPARISON TO THE MUSKEG?

The existing trail system between Webequie First Nation and the McFaulds Lake area is largely only passable for the entire distance during the coldest winter months. During the other seasons of the year, the trail system is interrupted by intermittent waterbodies, watercourses and large-scale wetlands (muskeg). In addition, the existing trails are narrow and suitable only for snowmobile access. They would have to be upgraded to current provincial standards/specifications for winter roads to facilitate heavy vehicles, such as transport trucks. The seasonal lifespan of the winter road could be lengthened marginally by the addition of permanent bridge/culvert structures across the larger watercourses that tend to open up soonest in the spring.

HOW WILL CONSTRUCTION ON THE WEBEQUIE SUPPLY ROAD BE INITIATED?  WILL CONSTRUCTION START AT ONE END AND PROCEED ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE ROAD?

Construction of the WSR is estimated to occur within a 33-month period, after securing all of the required approvals, permits, licences, authorizations and clearances to construct.

Construction will occur in two stages:

• Pre-construction: Activities will include field delineation of vegetation buffers and known nearby features of cultural or environmental importance that may require specialized application of mitigation measures or monitoring during construction; and
• Construction: Activities will continue year-round, with some construction activities being staged and implemented to avoid or minimize potential effects to Indigenous traditional land and resource use areas and/or culturally sensitive areas/uses, and life cycle periods of wildlife (i.e., by avoiding the clearing of vegetation during the migratory bird nesting period).

The detailed construction plans and sequencing of the Project will be determined during the Detailed Design phase through discussions between Indigenous communities and the construction contractor.

HOW WILL THE INDIGENOUS TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE STUDIES BE UNDERTAKEN?

The Webequie Supply Road Project Team is commencing an Indigenous Knowledge / Indigenous Land and Resource Use (IKLRU) Program. The IKLRU Program will provide important information that will inform the Environmental / Impact Assessments. The information gathered through the IKLRU Program will be used in combination with scientific approaches. Both knowledge systems will be given equal consideration in forming the baseline conditions and predicting potential Project effects, including potential effects to Indigenous rights and interests.

The purpose of the IKLRU Program is to:

• Promote sharing of IKLRU information relevant to the Project;
• Help identify potential effects of the Project, including those on Indigenous rights and interests; and
• Collaborate with Indigenous communities to enhance positive effects and/or to identify measures to avoid/reduce potential effects on Indigenous rights and interests.

The IKLRU Program will occur in two phases:

• Information Gathering Phase: Collecting existing Indigenous Knowledge and information on Indigenous land and resource use that communities are willing to share with the Project Team to help inform the early stages of the Assessments; and
• Information Integration Phase: Completing project-specific Indigenous Knowledge and Lands & Resource Use studies or compiling information/data, for integration into the Assessment.

Currently, the Project Team is determining which First Nations are interested in participating in the Program. Communities may share as much or as little IKLRU information as they wish, and in whatever form they prefer. The communities can also review the EAR / IS to ensure accuracy of IKLRU information, including if it has been adequately, appropriately, and respectfully represented within the Assessment.

You can learn more about the IKLRU Program here.

WHAT INFORMATION ARE YOU SEEKING FOR TH3E SOCIO-ECONOMIC STUDY AND HOW CAN FIRST NATIONS PARTICIPATE?

The goal of the Socio-Economic Study is to understand how, and to what extent, community socio-economic well-being could be affected by the construction and operation/maintenance of the Webequie Supply Road.

The study will involve:

• Collecting information on existing socio-economic conditions;
• Defining the study area(s) within which potential effects are considered;
• Assessing socio-economic effects, including identifying criteria and indicators to evaluate and measure the potential effects;
• Identifying appropriate mitigation measures to eliminate or reduce potential effects;
• Identifying net effects following mitigation; and
• Assessing cumulative effects.

The Project Team is asking for participation from Indigenous communities to discuss and collect socio-economic information and to verify the information gathered so far. Participation options for First Nations include:

• Community Socio-Economic Survey (communities can choose from various in-person and/or online survey delivery method options);
• Focus Groups; and
• Key Informant Interviews.

Learn more about the Socio-economic Program.

HOW WILL THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF THE WEBEQUIE SUPPLY ROAD ON WATER BE STUDIED AND ASSESSED?

The Project Team is conducting two studies to understand the potential effects of the WSR on water. These studies are the Aquatic Habitat Study and the Groundwater and Surface Water Study.

Aquatic Habitat Study
This study will gather information regarding the existing aquatic conditions at the 26 waterbody crossings identified along the preliminary preferred corridor for the WSR. The information collected in this study includes information about fish habitats such as:

• Habitat availability: both habitat quantity and quality;
• Habitat quantity: will involve a quantitative assessment of potential changes to the total area of habitat and any known or assumed critical life cycle habitat (e.g., spawning, rearing, etc.) affected by the construction and operation/maintenance of the WSR;
• Habitat quality: will examine changes to the quality of spawning, rearing, or overwintering type habitats for four criteria species (Brook Trout, Northern Pike, Walleye and Lake Sturgeon) as well as consideration of other species that may be consumed or have Indigenous cultural importance (i.e., Lake Whitefish, Chain Pickerel, Yellow Perch, Cisco, Burbot, Longnose Sucker, White Sucker and Lake Chub); and
• Habitat sensitivity: will be assessed and rated at each waterbody as rare, high, moderate, low, or no fish habitat based on species sensitivity, species dependence on habitat, rarity of certain types of habitat and ability of certain habitat to recover from change (resiliency).

To learn more about how the Project Team is planning to study the aquatic habitat, review the Fact Sheet and Study Plan Summary.

Groundwater and Surface Water Study
This study will gather information about groundwater and surface water including:

• Groundwater quantity: assessing potential changes to groundwater recharge, groundwater level (including seasonal changes) and groundwater flow/movement;
• Groundwater quality: assessing the physical, chemical and biological properties of groundwater that may change as a result of the Project;
• Surface Water Quantity: assessing potential changes to stream flows, water levels, and erosion and sedimentation processes at waterbody crossings, as well as overall drainage patterns within the Project area; and
• Surface Water Quality: assessing potential changes to biological or chemical properties of surface water in the Project area.

To learn more about how the Project Team is planning to study groundwater and surface water, review the Fact Sheet and Study Plan Summary.