Public Notice

Notice of intent to make a determination

Poundmaker Cree Nation Lagoon Upgrades – Public Comments Invited

January 15, 2025 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Poundmaker Cree Nation Lagoon Upgrades project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

Written comments must be submitted by February 14, 2025 to:

Indigenous Services Canada
Alvin Hamilton Building, 1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2B6
Email: isc-skenv@sac-isc.gc.ca

The Proposed Project

Poundmaker Cree Nation is proposing upgrades to existing wastewater management infrastructure. The project site which consists of actively farmed crop land, is located approximately 2 kilometres southeast of the community core area, south of the existing solid waste transfer station. Construction activities include expansion of the existing lagoon by constructing a 3.67 hectare treatment cell and 107,400 cubic metre volume capacity storage cell. The proposed project also involves construction of approximately 360 metres of access road to the proposed lagoon from an unnamed road, relocation of approximately 800m of raw water main away from the proposed lagoon site, and decommissioning of the existing two cell lagoon. These upgrades are intended to support the community's current and future needs.

Site preparation activities will consist of topsoil stripping of the lagoon area and the raw water main relocation area. Construction activities will include excavation to cell floor elevations and earthen fill to construct the perimeter berms and access road. All anticipated waste generation from construction activities will be disposed of at designated off reserve facilities. Procedures will be followed to limit the waste generated during construction, and mitigate any potential contamination pathways for petroleum products.

Standard operation and maintenance practices will apply to operation of the lagoon once commissioning has been completed, which include seasonal effluent releases from the storage cell. Effluent quality testing will be completed to ensure Saskatchewan standards are being achieved.