Yukon Energy President Andrew Hall says his corporation and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation have agreed to follow through with a three-year renewal license for the Aishihik generating station.
Yukon Energy President Andrew Hall says his corporation and the Champagne and Aishihik First Nation (CAFN) have agreed to follow through with a three-year renewal license at the Aishihik generating station.
Hall says the agreement will allow both parties more time to hammer out the details for a long-term water renewal license.
"We got into a situation where we were extremely tight for time since our existing license expires at the end of this year. Given the regulatory process that we have to go through, we recognize that we could simplify the regulators job by reducing the duration of the license by going for a three-year license renewal. It also provides additional time for conversations to go on between ourselves, the CAFN and the Yukon government. .
Hall says there was one particular issue both parties had to resolve to get a long-term license approved by the Yukon Water Board.
"We recognize that additional work and time was required to develop what's called a monitoring plan. It allows us to monitor the environment, particularly the buildup of ice during the winter. We then had to put in an adaptive management plan, which basically says if you see certain (environmental) impacts, it tells you how to respond. That needs a lot more work in collaboration with the First Nation."
Hall says becoming familiar with the short-term license details will also make it easier for his workers to complete the long-term water renewal license down the road.
"The regulatory process is set up with particular goals in mind. Were hoping that there won't be a whole lot of differences between the two license applications. That still needs to be confirmed. The hope is that by going through a three-year renewal license, everyone will be much more familiar with the content and information when we get to the long-term license process."
The CAFN have since expressed concern over the generating station's fluctuating water levels and it's impact on the local environment.
For a long-term license to get approved, the Yukon Environmental and Socioeconomic Assessment Board needs to review the project and then the Yukon Water Board needs to grant approval of the license.
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