Project Updates

2010

April 15 - Over the last decade, the Dunvegan project has been in various stages of development. Some phases are very active onsite, while others involve less visible work. TransAlta is entering into a phase of data collection and analyses that will mean less visible activity onsite.

The geotechnical and engineering work previously undertaken has not provided all the data necessary for us to complete the design and we will be taking the rest of 2010 to collect more data. This additional time and work will allow us to ensure that the geotechnical conditions are extremely well understood at the Dunvegan project site.

As a responsible developer, our goal is always to build the best projects possible. For Dunvegan this responsibility means taking time and money to complete this additional work. We will collect data on a quarterly basis this year, analyze the data and make any project development adjustments that may be required. This year, with the goal of optimizing the project, we will continue with activities including fisheries-related work with regulators and project engineering and design. We will then undertake additional geotechnical and engineering work at the proposed Dunvegan hydro project site in 2011. This work will include drilling deeper test holes than in previous drilling efforts to ensure we have all the information necessary for the success of this project. Once this critical work has been undertaken and analyzed, we will have a better understanding of the impacts on project timelines and construction schedules.

We will honour commitments we have made with our stakeholders while this work progresses and are committed to keeping our neighbours updated on the project as new information becomes available.

We encourage you to check back here for updated information, and to contact us should you have any questions or comments: dunvegan_project@transalta.com.

2009

October 31 – The geotechnical investigation was successfully concluded and the barge (and associated drill equipment) is being demobilized from the area.

September 22 - The geotechnical investigation was initiated in the third week of September to gather the final information on the site conditions to complete the preliminary design. A multi-section barge was assembled and towed into position at the site of the Project. A small drill rig will test conditions below the river bottom across the footprint of the weir and will gather cores for further testing. Field operations are expected to be concluded by the end of October.

May 7 - Canadian Hydro received formal project approval from the Natural Resources Conservation Board and approval from the AUC to construct and operate a Hydro Facility and Power Plant.

The federal government response to the Joint Review Panel report has been posted on the CEAR website. The Government of Canada accepts the conclusions of the Panel as presented in the report. In preparation of this Government of Canada Response, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Transport Canada, as the Responsible Authorities, considered the report submitted by the Panel.

April 20 - The Dunvegan Hydro Development Act received Royal Assent in the Alberta Legislature and came into force. Pursuant to Section 9 of HEEA, this Act was required to authorize the AUC to grant an order for the construction of the hydro development. The Act could only be tabled by the Executive Council after the AUC had reported to the Lieutenant Governor in Council the results of the Joint Review Panel hearing.

2008

December 22 - The Joint Review Panel issued its report determining the Dunvegan Hydroelectric Project (the Project) to be in the public interest. The Joint Panel, made up of members from each of the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NRCB), Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) and Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), determined the Project will provide a stable and reliable source of green power and will be a net benefit to the province.

September - A Joint Review Panel (being a Canada – AUC/NRCB environmental assessment panel) hearing was held in Fairview, Alberta to determine the environmental impact of the Project, as described in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Supplementary Information Requests (SIR), and if the Project is in the public best interest. More information on the hearing process and results is available on the Web sites of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (Registry Number 04-05-2996), the NRCB and the AUC.