Responsibility
Environmental Assessment and Approvals
SaskPower is committed to the principles of sustainable development. We ensure that all projects are internally screened and assessed to determine their potential impact on the environment.
Our process ensures that SaskPower complies with provincial and federal environmental legislation. We conduct vigorous monitoring of all new projects to mitigate environmental impact.
The annual environmental assessment and approval activities of SaskPower include:
Submitting environmental protection plans, project proposals and environmental impact statements for project approvals under provincial and federal assessment legislation.
Consulting with the public regarding potential environmental impacts of new projects, and considering their comments and concerns in project decisions.
Maintaining state-of-the-art databases and GIS systems to facilitate quick analysis of potential environmentally sensitive land.
Identifying new development locations and characteristics that have the least environmental impact and assisting project engineers in obtaining other permits and approvals for their projects, respecting construction near fisheries habitats, sensitive wildlife lands or near to plant and animal species at risk.
Conducting field studies prior to construction to identify and mitigate impacts on fisheries habitats, sensitive wildlife lands, plant and animal species at risk, and archaeological sites.
Doing follow-up studies of new developments in order to determine if there has been any environmental impact.
Carrying out landscape and vegetation reclamation, and monitoring yearly progress.
Environmental project screening
Our project planners have access to a state-of-the-art screening system so that they can determine potential environmental impacts and ensure that SaskPower is able to minimize impacts of new projects.
This system, developed by SaskPower, integrates over a dozen environmental and heritage databases into an efficient and highly effective tool. Further details on environmental screening and field assessments can be found in SaskPower's annual Environment Report.
Heritage resource management program
Our archaeology program ensures that the information contained within heritage sites isn't damaged by the construction of electrical facilities. SaskPower tries to avoid any impact at all to heritage sites through minor adjustments to the right-of-way. When avoidance isn't feasible, the corporation collects and records valuable information from the sites before they are affected.
Public involvement
SaskPower is committed to consultation with stakeholders concerning our facilities, operations, policies, and projects.
Public involvement presents an opportunity for SaskPower to achieve the best possible planning and implementation results. Through mutual education and exchange of ideas, project planners and communities work towards improved project decisions.
Our public involvement programs typically include
Early contact with local officials.
Distribution of detailed project information.
Open house sessions.
Meetings with individuals and interest groups.
Media releases and advertisements.
Direct correspondence and discussion by mail, email and telephone.
Results of public participation programs are frequently included in project application and approval processes.
