RESDP's Community Consultations Take a Deeper Look at the Environmental and Social Impact of Drilling

The Renewable Energy Sector Development Project (RESDP) continues to make significant progress as it leads the nation towards a sustainable and energy-independent future. The project recently completed its third round of community consultations in the project affected communities of Belle Plaine, Fond St Jacques and Saltibus. These consultations allowed residents from the communities to participate in discussions about the project's goals, potential impacts, and benefits.

A highlight of this round of consultations was the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). Community members received a presentation explaining how surveys will collect data on the project’s impact on the surrounding community. The Specialist and Project Manager for the ESIA, Suzanne Heim, explained:  

“At the start of the project, we are going to go out to each of these sites and look at them and evaluate what biological resources there are, what natural habitats exist, and what the air quality is like. We will also investigate if there are any geological resources that we should be aware of as well as the cultural resources and the demographics and economics of the community at large,” Heim explained.  

The assessment will evaluate long term risks from the project and in doing so apply international standards to define mitigation measures that will be implemented during the construction and testing process to make sure that the environmental conditions at the site are protected.  

The ESIA plays a significant role in the lifespan of the project. Heim explained the roles and responsibilities of her and her team.  

“Our job is to comply with the World Bank guidelines. Additionally, in this round, we are going to be updating the ESIA, the Environmental and Social Management Plan and the Resettlement Action Plan that was prepared in 2018. We are then going to use this as a starting point, see what has changed and then finally evaluate the exact impact of the project as defined today,” she continued.  

The ESIA process also has significant benefit to the project affected communities for present and future generations ensuring that the project is not only monitored from an environmental standpoint but also ensuring that there is just compensation for any properties and livelihoods affected.  

“The tangible benefits are during the Abbreviated Resettlement Action Plan process where we will be coming to the communities and looking at what is the actual valuation of anyone who is affected and making sure that everyone gets just compensation. So those parties who have land where there is going to be access road improvements or the well pad, if they have any structures on these properties they will be compensated fairly and will be made better off,” she concluded.  

With over 20 years of experience in this field, Heim and her team will provide continuous oversight to ensure that there is effective mitigation that will restore the site, where possible or maintain it for future generations.  

Through the work of the ESIA, The RESDP seeks to create a holistic and environmentally sustainable plan for expanding renewable energy sources, while ensuring active participation from local communities in the decision-making process.

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