BCUC Visits Construction Site to Inform its Site C Inquiry

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 15, 2017) - Late last week, the British Columbia Utilities Commission's (BCUC) Site C Inquiry panel, along with representatives from Deloitte LLP, visited the Site C construction site in order to inform the current inquiry into the project.

BC Hydro organizes construction of the project into six categories: dam site area; roads and highways; Peace River/Reservoir Area; transmission lines; Hudson's Hope shoreline protection; and the production and transportation of minerals. According to BC Hydro, as part of Site C construction, about 8.5 kilometres of the Cache Creek/Bear Flat segment of Highway 29 will require realignment, including the construction of a new bridge.

Over the course of the two day visit, the group toured the Highway 29 realignment area; received a briefing from BC Hydro's on-site team that included that team's views on progress to date and remaining work; and closed with a tour of the construction site, including the dam site area.

Site C Inquiry representatives taking part in the site visit were the panel of Commissioners appointed to report on the questions set out in the government's Order-In-Council (OIC) directing the inquiry; and representatives of Deloitte LLP, a professional services firm engaged by the BCUC to provide an independent report to address the questions in the OIC.

The Site C Inquiry is currently in its first phase, which consists of fact gathering that will inform a preliminary report. Members of the public are invited to submit data and analysis within the scope of the Terms of Reference to be considered for inclusion in the preliminary report by August 30, 2017.

On August 2, 2017, the Lieutenant Governor in Council, by OIC No. 244, requested that the BCUC, pursuant to section 5(1) of the Utilities Commission Act, advise the Lieutenant Governor in Council respecting BC Hydro's Site C project, in accordance with the terms set out in the OIC. The OIC is available on the BCUC's Site C Inquiry webpage: www.sitecinquiry.com.