Alberta Transportation minister Ric McIver is pleased the Springbank Off-stream Reservoir (SR1) project has been approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Board (NCRB) but says further approvals will be required before the flood/drought mitigation project proceeds.
"In reality, it's either zero approved or 100 per cent approved, so we're still at zero until we get federal approval," says McIver.
"We're hopefully that at some point in the not too distant future they will come forward with a positive decision, but we can't take it for granted, so we'll continue to work with them, we'll continue to answer their questions, and we'll continue to provide the information that they ask for."
The proposed project requires the green light from both the federal and provincial government, but before then it must meet the approval of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, Alberta Environment and Parks (including a review and approval from Alberta Dam Safety), and federal approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
McIver says his staff continues to work hard on the file and is committed to doing things properly for the environment and to get to the finish line.
"The environmental approval is pretty important, and I think for very good reasons. We've worked really hard and in some cases adjusted the plan to meet what regulators require of us."
As of yet, no response has been received from the SR1 Concerned Landowners Group on the NRCB decision.
The projected footprint of SR1.McIver didn't project any timeline on whether, or when, all approvals will be in place.
Thu, Apr 18, 4:30 PM
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