Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The Bipole III Environmental Impact Statement (as it appears below) was submitted to Manitoba Conservation on December 1, 2011. See the news release.

We also have separate pages that contain downloadable files (large file sizes) of the EIS, technical reports, and GIS data.

Note: At the request of Manitoba Conservation some adjustments have been made to two EIS technical reports to protect the locations of some rare and endangered plant and vertebrate species currently listed for protection under Manitoba legislation. The locational information was inadvertently included in these reports and has subsequently been removed. The changes are to protect the species of concern and do not alter the environmental assessment or conclusions. The Terrestrial Ecosystems & Vegetation Technical and the Terrestrial Invertebrates, Amphibians and Reptiles reports were modified.

• Table of Contents
• EIS Executive Summary
• EIS Chapter 1 – Introduction
  • Appendix 1A – Applicable Legislation
  • Appendix 1B – Scoping Document
  • Appendix 1C – Technical Reports
  • Map 1-1 Project Study Area
  • Map 1-2 Manitoba Hydro Existing Transmission and Generating System
• EIS Chapter 2 – Need and Alternatives
  • Appendix 2A – Letter from Province of Manitoba to Manitoba Hydro September 20, 2007
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.1-3.3
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.3-3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.5-3.6
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.6
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.6
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.6
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.6
• EIS Chapter 3 – Project Description 3.6-3.7
  • Appendix 3A – System Planning Criteria
  • Map 3-1 Proposed Concept Plan
  • Map 3-2 Final Preferred HVdc Transmission Line Route
  • Map 3-3 Keewatinoow Converter Station and Ground Electrode Site
  • Map 3-4 Riel Converter Station and Ground Electrode Site
  • Map 3-500 Northern Project Components
  • Map 3-6 Potential Sites Considered for Keewatinoow Converter Station
  • Map 3-7 Candidate and Preliminary Preferred Sites Considered for Keewatinoow Converter Station
  • Map 3-8 Candidate and Preliminary Preferred Sites Considered for Keewatinoow Ground Electrode
  • Map 3-9 Keewatinoow Borrow and Material Placement Areas
  • Map 3-10 Candidate and Preliminary Preferred Sites Considered for Riel Ground Electrode
• EIS Chapter 4 – Environmental Assessment Approach
• EIS Chapter 5 – Environmental Assessment Consultation Program
  • Appendix 5A – Newsletters
  • Appendix 5B – Meetings and Open Houses
• EIS Chapter 6 – Existing Environment
  • Appendix 6A – Biophysical Tables and Figures
  • Appendix 6B – Socio-Economic Tables and Figures
  • Map 6-1 Project Study Area
  • Map 6-2 Ecozones
  • Map 6-3 Ecoregions
  • Map 6-4 Bedrock Geology
  • Map 6-5 Surficial Geology
  • Map 6-6 Generalized Bedrock Geology of Manitoba
  • Map 6-7 Flowing Well Areas and Springs
  • Map 6-9 Watersheds Major and Sub Basins
  • Map 6-1000 Index of Map Series, Forest Cover and Distribution within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-1000-01 Forest Cover and Distribution within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-1000-02 Forest Cover and Distribution within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-1000-03 Forest Cover and Distribution within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-1000-04 Forest Cover and Distribution within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-1000-05 Forest Cover and Distribution within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-1000-06 Forest Cover and Distribution within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-11 Terrestrial Communities of Conservation Concern within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-12 Species of Conservation Concern Previously Known within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-13 Vascular Plants of Conservation Concern within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-14 Forest Fire History within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-15 Extent of Coastal and Barren Ground Caribou Ranges in Relation to the Manitoba Conservation Boreal Woodland Caribou Management Zone
  • Map 6-16 Extent of Moose Range in Manitoba
  • Map 6-17 Extent of Elk Range in Manitoba
  • Map 6-18 Extent of Boreal Woodland Caribou Ranges Outlined in the Provincial Strategy in Relation to the Manitoba Conservation Boreal Woodland Caribou Management Zone
  • Map 6-19 Extent of Boreal Woodland Caribou Ranges in Relation to the Manitoba Conservation Boreal Woodland Caribou Management Zone
  • Map 6-20 Extent of Wolf Range in Manitoba
  • Map 6-21 Extent of Wolf Pack Home Ranges Intersecting the Project Study Area
  • Map 6-2200-1 Mallard, Sand Hill Crane and Yellow Rail Range Extent
  • Map 6-2200-2 Great Blue Heron and Least Bittern Range Extent
  • Map 6-2200-3 Bald Eagle, Ferringous Hawk, Burrowing Owl and Short Eared Owl Range Extent
  • Map 6-2200-4 Ruffled Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse Range Extent
  • Map 6-2200-5 Red-Headed Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker Range Extent
  • Map 6-2200-6 Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will, Loggerhead Shrike and Sprague's Pipit Range Extent
  • Map 6-2200-7 Olive-sided Flycatcher, Rusty Blackbird, Golden-winged Warbler and Canada Warbler Range Extent
  • Map 6-23 Municipal Jurisdiction
  • Map 6-24 Planning Districts
  • Map 6-2500 Index of Map Series, Forest Resource Use within Project Study Area, Part 1
  • Map 6-2500-04 Forest Resource Use within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-2600 Aboriginal Lands
  • Map 6-2800 Protected and Designated Lands
  • Map 6-29 Historic Sites within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-2900 Conservation Lands
  • Map 6-3000 Infrastructure Facilities
  • Map 6-3000-04 Infrastructure Facilities
  • Map 6-31 Forest Management
  • Map 6-3100 Soil Capability and Agricultural Use within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-32 Mineral Resource Use
  • Map 6-33 Aggregate Resources
  • Map 6-34 Registered Trapline Sections
  • Map 6-35 Recreation Sites and Facilities
  • Map 6-36 Big Game and Bird Hunting Areas
  • Map 6-37 Regional Health Authorities
  • Map 6-38 Cultural Paleo Sites within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-39 Cultural Archaic Sites within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-40 Cultural Woodland Sites within Project Study Area
  • Map 6-4100 Designated Heritage Sites within Project Study Area
• EIS Chapter 7 – Identification and Evaluation of Alternative Routes and Sites
  • Appendix 7A – Preliminary Preferred Route Selection Process
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 1
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 2
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 3
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 4
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 5
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 6
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 7
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 8
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 9
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 10
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 11
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 12
  • Appendix 7A – Route Selection Matrix 13
  • Appendix 7A – Evaluation Factors by Segment for New Alternative Route Segments
  • Appendix 7B – Preliminary Preferred Route Adjustments
  • Map 7-1 Project Study Area
  • Map 7-2 Potential Sites Considered for Keewatinoow Converter Station
  • Map 7-300 Northern Project Components
  • Map 7-4 Keewatinoow Converter Station Potential Ground Electrode Sites
  • Map 7-5 Candidate and Preliminary Preferred Sites Considered for Keewatinoow Ground Electrode
  • Map 7-6 Riel Converter Station Potential Ground Electrode Sites
  • Map 7-7 Candidate and Preliminary Preferred Sites Considered for Riel Ground Electrode
  • Map 7-8 Bottleneck Areas within Project Study Area
  • Map 7-9 Alternative Route Segments
  • Map 7-1000 Alternative Route Segments Considered in Preliminary Preferred Route Selection
  • Map 7-11 Preliminary Preferred Route
  • Map 7-1200 Adjustments Considered for the Final Preferred Route
  • Map 7-13 Final Preferred Route Options Through Thompson Nickel Belt Area
  • Map 7-14 Final Preferred Route
• EIS Chapter 8 – Effects Assessment and Mitigation
  • Map 8-1 Extent of Boreal Woodland Caribou Range Winter Core Use Areas
  • Map 8-2 Extent of Moose Habitat within the Local Study Area
  • Map 8-3 Extent of Elk Habitat within the Local Study Area
  • Map 8-4 Extent of Marten Habitat within the Local Study Area
  • Map 8-5 Extent of Beaver Habitat within the Local Study Area
  • Map 8-6 Plains Spadefoot Habitat Distribution Map
  • Map 8-7 Garter Snake Habitat Distribution Map
  • Map 8-8 Northern Prairie Skink Habitat Distribution Map
• EIS Chapter 9 – Cumulative Effects Assessment
• EIS Chapter 10 – Sustainability Assessment
• EIS Chapter 11 – Environmental Protection, Follow-up and Monitoring
  • Attachment 11-1 Draft Environmental Protection Plan
  • Map 1 Project Study Area
  • Map 2 Northern Project Components
  • Map 3 Southern Project Components
• Map Folio – 1:2,500,000 (9 maps, print at 22" x 34")
• Map Folio – 1:50,000 (97 maps, print at 11" x 17")
• Abbreviations, Acronyms and Units
• Glossary