News Release

BC Hydro is providing funding to the RCMP to conduct additional patrols along the 136 km stretch of Highway 23 North for the next four years during construction of the BC Hydro’s Mica projects.

REVELSTOKE – BC Hydro and the RCMP are working together to make Highway 23 North safer for the public and for wildlife. As recommended by the community-based Mica Units 5 and 6 Core Committee, BC Hydro is providing funding to the RCMP to conduct additional patrols along the 136 km stretch of highway for the next four years during construction of the BC Hydro's Mica projects.

"Safety is BC Hydro's top priority," said Chris O'Riley, BC Hydro's Executive Vice President of Generation. "We share the concerns of local government, First Nations, and stakeholders on the Mica Units 5 and 6 Core Committee about increased traffic on Highway 23 North during construction of the Mica Project and the need for these measures to increase road safety."

Road safety is also a top priority for the Revelstoke RCMP and for police across the province. "When we were approached by BC Hydro we realized that this partnership just made good sense," said Cpl. Rod Wiebe, the spokesperson for the detachment. "It will enable us to dedicate added resources to Highway 23 North at a time when traffic levels and collisions are on the rise. This in turn contributes to our commitment to safe homes and safe communities."

BC Hydro is also implementing additional measures recommended by the Mica Units 5 and 6 Core Committee to address impacts of increased traffic. These include additional signage to warn drivers of high wildlife use areas and providing a safety package to all Mica project workers containing information on traffic safety, accident risks, and wildlife awareness and protection.

The Mica Units 5 and 6 Core Committee included interested stakeholders, not-for-profit groups, First Nations, federal, provincial and local governments, and representatives of BC Hydro. The Committee worked from January 2008 until June 2009 to identify potential project effects and recommend measures to maximize benefits and minimize impacts. All measures recommended by the Committee were included as project commitments during the provincial Environmental Assessment Office's environmental review.

On-site work for the Mica 5 and 6 Project is underway with the contractors arriving at Mica Generating Station and setting up work areas. The project has an in-service date of 2014 for Mica Unit 5 and 2015 for Mica Unit 6.

The Mica Units 5 and 6 Project is part of BC Hydro's overall regeneration program to invest in and renew the province's electricity system. The Mica Units 5 and 6 Project is a low cost and low impact project that will provide much needed additional capacity to BC Hydro's electricity system.

The additional two units will increase the generating capacity of the facility from 1,805 megawatts to approximately 2,805 megawatts, surpassing BC Hydro's current largest facility - GM Shrum Generating Station on the Peace River System at 2,730 megawatts. This is a significant amount of electricity that will increase BC Hydro's provincial capacity by nearly nine per cent and will be available at peak times when BC families need it most.

About BC Hydro
Fifty years ago, British Columbians turned to BC Hydro to build the clean electricity system they count on to power B.C.'s economy, create jobs in every region, and keep the lights on. Now, BC Hydro is building again for the next 50 years. B.C. continues to grow and so has the need for more electricity. That’s why BC Hydro is building, renewing, and encouraging conservation to meet today’s needs and those of future generations. In 2011, BC Hydro is celebrating 50 years of providing power for British Columbians, and inviting them to help prepare for the next 50 years.

About the RCMP
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police is the Canadian national police service and an agency of the Ministry of Public Safety Canada. The RCMP is unique in the world since it is a national, federal, provincial and municipal policing body. We provide a total federal policing service to all Canadians and policing services under contract to the three territories, eight provinces (except Ontario and Quebec), more than 190 municipalities, 184 Aboriginal communities and three international airports.

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Contact:

Jennifer Walker-Larsen
Stakeholder Engagement Advisor, BC Hydro
Phone: 250 814 6645
jennifer.walker-larsen@bchydro.com

Corporal Rod Wiebe
Media Liaison Officer, Revelstoke RCMP
Phone: 250 837 5255