News Release - September 9, 2009

NELSON - The Environmental Assessment Office's decision to put the brakes on a controversial private power project in the Kootenays is welcome news for local communities concerned about the environmental impacts of the project, say the Official Opposition.

"The Glacier-Howser private power project is a destructive proposal that the people of the Kootenays overwhelmingly oppose," said Michelle Mungall, Opposition MLA for Nelson-Creston. "This is the second time that Glacier-Howser has failed the environmental assessment process. If the B.C. Liberal government cares about the environment and respects the people of this region, they will put an end to this proposal once and for all."

The controversial private power project is proposed for an area in the Purcell Mountains, 120 kilometers north of Nelson.  At 125 megawatts, Glacier-Howser is the largest private power project proposal in the Kootenay region.

Mungall noted that the Glacier-Howser project is opposed by the majority of local residents because of its potential to harm threatened and endangered species such as bull trout, grizzly bears, wolverine and mountain caribou, as well as the damage it would do to a popular recreational area and tourist attraction.

"Even though the government refused to consult all the communities that would be negatively impacted by this destructive proposal, more than 90 per cent of the submissions made to the Environmental Assessment Office were opposed to Glacier-Howser," said Mungall.

In June, more than 1,100 people showed up to a public meeting on Glacier-Howser held in the tiny community of Kaslo, many of them from communities like Nelson, which were shut out of the environmental assessment process.

Opposition energy critic John Horgan says the decision is evidence of the need for the provincial government to create an energy plan that respects the values and protects the interests of British Columbians. "It's time to sit down and revamp an energy plan for the 21st century that includes all British Columbians," said Horgan.

Carole James and the Official Opposition are fighting for an environmental plan that respects communities, offers families positive choices and commits to concrete action to protect species at risk.

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Media Contact: Jennifer Jones 250-889-6308