NOTICE OF COMMENCEMENT

of an Environmental Assessment

Half Mile Rapids Generating Station Project: CFB Petawawa, Ontario

Petawawa, Canadian Forces Base (ON)

June 10, 2009 (Updated February 8, 2011) — National Defence, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Transport Canada are required to ensure that a screening is conducted commencing on June 3, 2009 in relation to the development proposal: Half Mile Rapids Generating Station Project: CFB Petawawa, Ontario.

Xeneca Power Development Inc., has proposed to build a waterpower electricity generating facility on the Petawawa River. The Half Mile waterpower development site is located entirely on Canadian Forces Base Petawawa.

Xeneca Power is proposing to construct hydroelectric facilities at Half Mile Rapids. The facility will have a generating capacity of 4.8 MW. The main components will include a water control structure (dam), power canal, discharge canal and powerhouse. A road upgrade and new roads will be required to access the site. A 115kv transmission line 10.5km long connecting near the Petawawa-Craig TS at tower structure # P35 on line Circuit D6 (via Big Eddy Generating Station) will be installed in order to connect the station to the Hydro One electrical grid.

The proposed project at Half Mile Rapids would capture the surveyed gross head of 10.5 m. The conceptual development incorporates the use of a concrete control dam. A conveyance channel situated on the south shore of the river will conduct flow from the river to an intake which will feed one or more Kaplan turbine coupled to respective generators with a combined rated nameplate capacity of 4.8 MW.

The project consists of the following major components:

• dam;
• intake;
• penstock;
• powerhouse;
• connection system ( to link the generator to the grid);
• substation;
• access roads;
• temporary storage facilities and laydown area; and
• gates and fences.

Under section 5 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, an environmental assessment is required because, for the purpose of enabling the project to be carried out in whole or in part, National Defence may provide federal lands; Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada may take action in relation to subsection 7(1) of the Dominion Water Power Act; Fisheries and Oceans Canada may take action in relation to subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act, may take action in relation to section 32 of the Fisheries Act, may take action in relation to subsection 22(3) of the Fisheries Act and may take action in relation to subsection 22(1) of the Fisheries Act and because Transport Canada may take action in relation to section 5 of the Navigable Waters Protection Act.

National Defence will act as the Federal Environmental Assessment Coordinator for this environmental assessment.

For further information on this environmental assessment, please contact:
Michelle Perry
Environment Officer
CFB Petawawa
P.O. Box 9999 Stn Main
ASU Petawawa
Base Head Quarters
Petawawa  ON  K8H 2X3
Telephone: 613-687-5511 ext. 6572
Fax: 613-588-2675
Email: perry.m@forces.gc.ca

and refer to Registry reference number 09-01-47878