Strong Pine Energy Services (SPES) is developing a silica sand project southwest of Hanson Lake, Saskatchewan, approximately 100 km west of Flin Flon, Manitoba. The purpose of the project is to produce high quality silica sand, primarily for use in the oil and gas industry.
Prior to construction, EDI team members provided technical support, with a focus on the effects assessment for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), the Caribou Migration and Offsetting Plan, and the aquatic assessment. In February 2020, SPES received approval from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment to proceed with this project. EDI continued to provide environmental support following this approval.
EDI’s efforts on the project have included:
- Conducting caribou (ground) and vegetation (including rare plant) surveys
- Assisting with revisions to the effects assessment for all components
- Preparing a Caribou Migration and Offsetting Plan:
- quantifying the potential direct and indirect Project effects on caribou and their habitat
- generating a Caribou Migration and Offsetting Plan, based on initial Project planning and design specifications, that proposed a preliminary strategy for habitat restoration and offset measures for discussion
- updating the Caribou Migration Plan
- Conducting the aquatics assessment:
- conducting a field program to collect aquatic baseline information for Hanson Lake including water quality, sediment quality, bathymetry, benthic invertebrate community, fish habitat, and fish community
- completing an effects assessment for the aquatic environment to identify, evaluate and determine the significance of potential effects resulting from the Project after mitigation was considered
- Assisting with permitting requirements following regulatory approval of the EIS