Participant Funding Program–Regular Funding Envelope
Funding Review Committee's Report

Allocation of Federal Funds for the Environmental Assessment of the Canpotex Potash Terminal Project

The Participant Funding Program (PFP) is established pursuant to subsection 58(1.1) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (the Act), which states: For the purposes of this Act, the Minister shall establish a participant funding program to facilitate the participation of the public in comprehensive studies, mediations and assessments by review panels.

A Funding Review Committee (FRC) independent of the environmental assessment (EA) was established for the Canpotex Potash Terminal Project (the Project). The EA of the Project is being conducted by means of a comprehensive study (CS). The FRC's purpose was to assess funding applications received under the PFP–Regular Funding Envelope (RFE) for the proposed project, and to provide recommendations to the President of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) on whether funding should be provided, and if so, in what amount.

Under the RFE for this project, a total of $50,000 was made available to support public participation in the EA linked to the:

• reviewing and commenting on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) submitted by Canpotex Terminals Ltd. (the proponent); and
• reviewing and commenting on the Comprehensive Study Report (CSR).

The deadline to submit an application was September 30, 2011. One application was received requesting a total of $24,640.

On October 7, 2011, the FRC met to review the application. The FRC members were: Mr. Paul Scott, retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Regional Office, acting as Committee Chairperson; Mr. Ray Crook, Environmental Assessment Consultant; and Mr. Patrick Duxbury, Environmental Assessment Consultant.

Background

The Project consists of a potash export terminal and the enabling transportation and utility infrastructure. The proponent is proposing the construction of the export terminal while the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) is proposing the construction of the road, rail and utility corridor, which will also service future developments on Ridley Island. A single EA is being conducted since both projects are considered interdependent. The Project will be located on approximately 160 hectares of land and on an approximately 13.5-hectare water lot; the Canpotex Potash Export Terminal will require approximately 21 hectares of land and the PRPA Road/Rail and Utility Corridor will require approximately 125 hectares of upland area.

The Canpotex Potash Export Terminal will include the following components:

• Marine wharf, access trestle, causeway and all weather ship loading facility capable of receiving vessels of up to 180,000 dead weight tonnes (DWT).
• 180,000 tonne potash storage building with associated conveyor and dust collection systems.
• Automated railcar unloading and conveyor system, automated portal scraper and dust collection system.
• Settlement pond for storm water and wash down water, and marine outfalls.
• Administration, personnel, maintenance, and storage buildings.
• Site services including water supply, natural gas and sewage.
• Other applicable ancillary components associated with the Project and located within the project area.

Once the terminal is fully operational, it will have the capacity to export up to 13 million tonnes of potash annually. This throughput will consist of approximately 500,000 tonnes of white potash on a direct hit basis (meaning the potash will move directly between the railcar and the ship), and the remainder will be red potash (either on a direct hit basis or from railcar to storage and storage to ship).

The PRPA Road, Rail and Utility Corridor will include the following components:

• Rail loop (approximately 7,818 metres), consisting of a railbed for up to 14 inbound and 11 outbound tracks.
• Three inbound rail tracks and two outbound tracks laid for the Canpotex Potash Export Terminal.
• A 69 kilovolts transmission line (approximately 3.4 kilometres) connecting Ridley Island and the Canpotex Potash Export Terminal to the BC Hydro power transmission system.
• Access road with a rail overpass and underpass.
• Rail land bridge and culverts.
• Infilling of foreshore marine habitat along Chatham Sound.

In addition to the components listed above, temporary structures associated with project construction are considered as part of the Project. These include site offices, first aid stations, washrooms, equipment maintenance shops, temporary lay-down areas and barge landing sites.

Eligibility

Eligible recipients must be able to demonstrate that they meet at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Have a direct, local interest in the Project, such as living or owning property in the project area.
• Have community knowledge or Aboriginal traditional knowledge relevant to the EA.
• Have expert information relevant to the anticipated environmental effects of the Project.

The applicant was deemed to have met the eligibility criteria.

Under the PFP–RFE, applicants can request funding for costs related to:

• professional fees;
• staff salaries and benefits;
• travel expenses;
• honoraria for Elders and Chiefs to attend meetings and functions;
• ceremonial offerings related to receiving traditional knowledge in relation to the EA;
• administrative and reporting costs;
• local collection and/or distribution of information;
• office supplies and telephone charges;
• rental of office space and meeting rooms;
• legal fees;
• general media advertising and/or promotion;
• purchase of information material, with supporting documentation; and
• other detailed expenses.

Rationale for Allocation

In reviewing the application and in reaching its conclusions and recommendations, the FRC took into consideration a number of factors including the following:

• The ability of the applicant to demonstrate that it had met one or more of the eligibility criteria listed above.
• The quality, clarity and content of the application and the applicant's proposed EA participation work plan.
• The eligible activities under the PFP–RFE for the Project, which are reviewing and providing comments to the Agency on the EIS and the CSR.

Recommendation

The FRC recommends that no funding be allocated to the applicant.

The Funding Review Committee
Canpotex Potash Terminal Project
Regular Funding Envelope

_______________________________________
Paul Scott, Committee Chairperson, Retired Regional Director of the Agency's Pacific and Yukon Regional Office

_______________________________________
Ray Crook, Environmental Assessment Consultant

_______________________________________
Patrick Duxbury, Environmental Assessment Consultant

Recommended Participant Funding Allocations
Canpotex Potash Terminal Project
Regular Funding Envelope

Applicant	Total Allocation Amount Recommended
Peter Freeman, Chair of Applied Research Working Group, Northwest Community College	$0
TOTAL	$0