NEW INFORMATION - Website Update
The Heartland website has now been updated to reflect the November 1st, 2011 Alberta Utilities Commission(AUC) decision.
Alternate Aerial Route Option
The AUC has asked the Heartland Team to examine additional options for routing the line near the Colchester Elementary School to reduce visual impact, The Heartland Team has identified an alternate aerial route option that runs east from Structure 28 until the edge of the TUC and then runs north to Structure 34. The Heartland Team mailed letters with a map of the alternate aerial route to stakeholders within 1000 metres of both the original route and the alternate option. We will be looking to speak with stakeholders to gather feedback regarding the alternate aerial route option.
View map.
Information Session
The Heartland Project Team will be hosting an information session about the alternate aerial route option in the Colchester School area.
Date: Tuesday February 7, 2012
Time: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Location: Sherwood Park Community Hall (log cabin), 50 Spruce Avenue, Sherwood Park
AUC Decision Announced
On November 1, 2011 the AUC announced its decision on the Heartland Transmission Project. The Commission has approved the East Transportation/Utility Corridor (TUC) route with overhead power lines, including the use of monopoles along a 9.5 km stretch in the TUC.
The Heartland Project Team will update this website, including route maps, after reviewing the decision.
For more information on the decision, please visit the AUC website at www.auc.ab.ca.
Update on Buy-out Option and Legal Costs
The Heartland Project Team has now met or offered to meet with the landowners along the recommended East TUC Route whose property meets the expanded buy-out criteria. All of the eligible properties have been contacted.
View the summary letter from the buy-out meetings.
View the letter on reasonable legal costs for the buy-out process.
Expanded Criteria for Buy-out Option
Following the oral public hearing, the Heartland Team has expanded the criteria for buy-outs pertaining to private land, and has subsequently identified a number of additional stakeholders who may now be eligible for a buy-out of their land. Please note that there will be no buy-outs offered to properties along the Transportation / Utility Corridor (TUC).
As a result, those stakeholders whose property is located along the Preferred East TUC Route are currently being contacted directly by the Heartland Team. If the Alternate West Route should be selected, eligible stakeholders along this route would be contacted at that time.
In light of this new information, the AUC has extended its overall hearing schedule to allow for the submission of additional information requests from interveners. This will be followed by final and reply arguments:
- June 6, 2011 - Interveners submit written information requests to the AUC
- June 13, 2011 - Heartland Team submits responses to those information requests
- June 20, 2011 - Final arguments are due from all parties
- July 6, 2011 - Reply arguments are due from all parties
The AUC panel will then consider the Heartland Team's recommendation for an overhead line along the East TUC, or in the alternative, partial undergrounding or the use of monopoles along segments of that route, as well as the Alternate West Route. In making its decision the AUC will consider all the evidence and factors presented at the public hearing. The AUC is expected to issue its decision in the fall of 2011.
For more information on the AUC process, visit their website at www.auc.ab.ca.
If you have any questions or comments about the Heartland project, please contact us by calling 1-888-441-7192 or e-mailing at PublicConsultation@heartlandtransmission.ca
Soil Testing Update
The soil testing that was conducted in March and April inside the Transportation Utility Corridor (TUC) on the East route has been completed.
Soil testing will now continue on the East route outside of the TUC where landowners have given us approval to access their property.
This work is part of the soil testing requirements to determine the best possible construction process if the Preferred route is approved. We are making sure we have all the information we need for both overhead and underground options.
No decision has been made about a route for the proposed Heartland Transmission Line. The AUC will decide whether a transmission route should be approved and, if so, whether any portion of the line should be underground. Only one route will be built if approved by the AUC.
The AUC is expected to issue its decision in the fall of 2011.
Please visit our site again for future updates on the project.