On November 4, 2011 British Columbia Women's Institute submitted the following comments to Brian Murphy, Project Assessment Director, BC Environment Assessment Office, and to Linda Jones, Manager, Canadian Environmental Assessment Office.

RE: Site C Clean Energy Project 11-05-63919

The British Columbia Women's Institute submits its concerns regarding the construction of the mega project "Site C Clean Energy Project 11-05-63919".  You Public Comment Policy requests submissions that identify an issue or concern or otherwise contribute to a better understanding of the potential environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects of the proposed project.

Environmental Issues

1. Flooding 11,000 acres of agriculture land that includes 7,841 acres of Class 1 and 2 prime food producing agriculture lands.
2. Destruction of the migratory route of wildlife on the Yellowstone to Yukon Corridor.
3. Contamination of the waterways created by the leaching of mercury from the flooded soils.
4. Unstable soils in the area of the proposed dam.
5. Excavations and relocation of excess soil and rock near dam site
6. Excavations for construction materials from quarries and borrow area north of the dam site and Pine Pass vicinity.
7. Rail and road instability resulting from transporting massive heavy amounts of construction materials.
8. Methane and C02 production caused from decomposition of flooded vegetation.
9. Increase in water temperature of the Peace River.
10. The complete devastation and far reaching total chaos that could be caused should one or all three dams on the Peace fail as a result of earthquake, fault or terrorism.

Economic Issues

1. Cost to British Columbia taxpayers for upgrade, relocation and maintenance of rail and roads.
2. Cost of moving massive amount of construction materials.
3. Non utilization of vast forestry product.
4. Permanent loss of food producing land.
5. Cost of residential relocation.
6. Widening of transmission corridor.
7. Relocation of existing transmission lines.
8. Cost of protection berm for Hudson's Hope.
9. No value can be put on the loss of wildlife habitat.
10. Cost of restoration should one or all three dams on the Peace fail as a result of earthquake, fault or terrorism.
11. Net value of recreational use would be reduced.
12. Flooding of traditional First Nations land.

Social Impacts

1. Flooding the valley would eliminate 3rd generation homestead sites.
2. Flooding of 78 known aboriginal heritage sites, burial sites and medicinal gathering grounds.
3. Social and emotional upheaval caused by loss and relocation.
4. Risk of flooding by the dams from default or terrorist attack.
5. Flooding of traditional First Nations land.

Health Impacts

1. Methane, mercury, green house gases, C02.
2. Inability to produce food locally from class 1 and 2food producing agriculture land.
3. High risk area created by transmission line.
4. Emotional loss.
5. The complete devastation and far reaching total chaos that could be caused should one or all three dams on the Peace fail as a result of earthquake, fault or terrorism.

Heritage Impact

1. 310 known historical sites would be flooded.
2. Loss of 78 known aboriginal heritage sites, burial sites and medicinal gathering grounds.
3. Loss of Archeological and Paleontological  resources.
4. Relocation of historical sites.
5. Flooding of traditional First Nations land.