THE JUMBO GLACIER ALPINE RESORT PROPOSAL

Transcription

1 jumbo Glacier Alpine Jtiesort P R O P O S A L Environmental Assessment Office Province of British Columbia August 1995 Number 1 THE JUMBO GLACIER ALPINE RESORT PROPOSAL Pheidias Project Management Corporation (Pheidias), or. behajf of Glacier Resorts Ltd. (Glacier Resorts), has submitted a proposal to develop a year-round alpine resort in the Jumbo Creek valley, located in the Purcell Mountain Range, west of Invermere. The Jumbo Glacier development would focus on lift-serviced access to vistas opening on to the Lake of the Hanging Glacier, as well asjon to some of the largest and highest glaciers in the region. As proposed, the development would be completed in three main phases. The initial phase would see development at the base of Glacier Dome, located at the northern end of the Jumbo Creek valley. An access lift to the top of Glacier Dome would be installed, plus two or three t- bar lifts located on the glacier. The company would operate the t-bar lifts year-round. In addition, the first hotel/lodge complex would be built, with an initial capacity of 100 rooms. This complex would eventually be expanded to a total of 200 rooms, providing approximately 400 bed spaces. In the second phase, construction of a resort village would take place, located approximately two kilometers south of the original hotel/led^-; complex. Ski lifts from this site would be developed in stages, providing connections to Glacier Dome and Jumbo Mountain glacier and lookouts. Initial plans for the village include a 300-room hotel (approximately 600 bed spaces) and additional tourist.- facilities, such as apartments, r\vo more hotels, shops, restaurants, and other recreational facilities. Ultimately, the total bed base in the village would comprise approximately 5)500 bed spaces, including staff accommodations. The o total area required for this phase of the development is approximately 28 hectares. The third and final phase of the development would entail the addition of up to 172 single family dwellings, constructed to the east and west of the proposed village. The toi;il estimated area required for these dwellings and associated roadways is approximately 200 hectares. Development of each ph;ise could take several years, since construction periods will be confined to the summer months. Phase 1 is expected to take from two to four years to complete. Glacier Resorts anticipates a pause of up to two years between Phases 1 and 2. Development of Phase 2 could take at lea.st 15 to 20 years to complete, and perhaps longer. In total, the skiabie terrain at the Jumbo Glacier Alpine Resort, induding the areas licensed for ski runs and connecting territory, would encompass 1600 hectares of land in the Jumbo Creek valley, and would indude a village with a capacity of 7,000 bed spaces for both visitors and staff.

2 J U M B O G L A C I E R A L P I N E R E S O R T P R O P O S A L PRFVTOTis A XVC/Vl^UO Thc company fir communicated its interest in developing a ski resort on Crown land in the Jumbo Creek valley to government in Pheldias, D in April 1991, submitted a formal expression of interest to the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks under the Commercial Alpine Ski Policy (CASP), which is coordinated by BC Lands. In response to a call for proposals issued by that ministry, the company then submitted a formal proposal in February of 1993, and was selected in March of 1993 as the sole proponent for the development proposal under CASP. In 1993, consideration of this project under the CASP review process was deferred, pending completion of a land-use plan for the East bcootenay region. In March 1995, the provincial government announced its decision on the East Kootenay land-use plan. The Jumbo Creek valley was included in the Jumbo-Upper Horsethief Creek special resource management zone. In special resource management zones, a full range of resource uses may occur where they can be undertaken in ways which respect sensitive natural and cultural values. In the Jumbo Creek valley area, important scenic, wildlife, tourism and recreation values are highlighted, and commercial tourism activities, such as the Jumbo Glacier proposal, may be approvable if they can be developed with the necessary sensitivity towards these other values. The government is doing further work to develop a full array of management objectives for each identified land-use zone, based on the work of the Commission on Resources and Environment (C.O.R.E.) tables. Results from this work that are available to the Project Committee will form part of the context for assessing the potential effects of this project. The C.O.R.E. table recommended that an environmental assessment be undertaken under the. Environmental Assessment Act, to evaluate the compatibility of commercial resort development for the Jumbo Creek valley (such as the Pheidias proposal) with other values in the area. The environmental assessment process provides for public involvement to ensure that all values and perspectives are fully considered in a final decision. With the proclamation of B.C. s new Environmental Assessment Act on June 30, 1995, responsibility for administration and _, coordination of this project review has been transferred to the new EnvironmentaJ Assessment (EA) Office.

3 ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THE PAST Key issues raised in the pas: by che public (during the previous GASP review process) include: Environmental Issues Wildlife habitat impacts Impacts on wilderness character (including impacts^on wilderness recreation values In the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy and around Lake of the Hanging Glacier) 1 Water quality/quantity Waste disposal Safety and control of avalanches Economic Issues Infrastructure costs (effects on public purse) vs. income to the province and to out-of-country investors Local economic benefits Achievabiliry of target markets/effects on nearby ski resorts Mineral potential Impacts on licensed guide-outfitters and trappers Logins; in adjacent areas DO O i «Increase in park use in the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy (i.e. additional budget and facilities) Social Issues Effects on community character Accessibility to local skiers (i.e. affordability of facilities) Effects of Jumbo Pass highway proposal on local communities - C.O.R.E. table recommended against this proposal, which is not part of the Jumbo Glacier resort proposal Displacement of local recreationalists Heritage conservation (re: possible aboriginal travel corridor) Aboriginal rights and impacts on traditional use areas (e.g. impacts on animal and food fish resources utilixed by First Nations) Process Issues Provision of sufficient time for public input Credibility of research results

4 J U M B U ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF THE JUMBO GLACIER ALPINE RESORT PROPOSAL NEXT STEPS IN THE REVIEW- PROCESS The process set out in the Environmental Assessment Act is designed to ensure an open, neutrally administered evaluation of the key policy and technical issues associated with the potential impacts of proposed developments. The process includes substantial opportunities for public and First Nations involvement at each stage of review. The review process is comprehensive involving consideration of significant environmental, economic, social, cultural, heritage and health effects of the proposal. Ultimately, the decision to approve or reject the Jumbo Glacier proposal, or to require a public hearing, will be a joint decision of the Minister of Environment, Lands and Parks and the Minister of Employment and Investment (who has been designated the "Responsible Minister" for ski developments under the Act). If the project eventually requires a formal public hearing, the decision to approve or reject the project would then be made by Rill Cabinet. The proponent has submitted a five-volume submission, entitled Jumbo Glacier Alpine Resort and dated June 2, 1995, in support of, its application for a project approval certificate. This documentation has been accepted for formal detailed review by the EA Office, and contains information on the project's history, conceptual development plan, project planning and operations, environmental and socio-economic implications, and economic feasibility. The application documentation has been placed on the Project Registry to facilitate public review (see page 7 for additional information about the Project Registry). A Project Committee has been formed to steer the review of the application. Representatives from provincial, federal and local governments and First Nations D have been invited to sit on the committee. The committee will consider comments on the application received from the public, First Nations and government agencies in its review. Members of the public are invited to review the proponent's application documentation, and to provide written comments on issues of interest and concern raised by the proposed development. The deadline for public comments on the application documentation had been set for September 5, At its August 2nd meeting, the Project Committee decided to extend the public comment period until September 20, Also at its Ausrist o meeting, o the Project Committee concluded that it would be necessary for the proponent to file a project report (or detailed impact assessment submission) at the

5 J U M B O G L A C I E R A L P N E K t 5 U u PUBLIC INPUT TO PROJECT REVIEWS Public Notification Public Consultation Public Notification Public Input Public Consultation Public Notification Public Input Reject A Project Preliminary Consultation & Data Collection APPLICATION Project Committee Established Application Review Period (30-75 days) Draft Project Report Specifications Specifications Review Period (15-30 days) PROJECT REPORT Project Report Review Period (45-60 days) Draft Public Hearing Terms of Reference Terms of Reference Review Period (30-60 days) PUBLIC HEARING Hearing Report Project Approval Certificate next stage of review. This submission will be expected to deal with issues which were either not identified or not fully addressed in the application documentation. The Project Committee will develop draft specifications (or terms of reference) for the project report and make them public. If the Project Commictee had concluded that further reporting by the proponent is not required prior to a final decision on the project, then it would have made recommendations to the two ministers with respect to acceptance or rejection of the proponents application. However, since a project report will be required, there will be no referral to ministers for a decision at the end of the first stage of review. The public will have up to 30 days to provide comments on the project report specifications in draft form. A stakeholder group workshop will be held during this step to provide opportunities for interested parties to raise questions about the draft specifications, and to ensure that their concerns are communicated to the Project Committee. Afcer this public comment period, the Project Committee will finalize the specifications and provide them to the proponent. On receipt of the finalized project report specifications, the propcnent will be expected to prepare and submit the project report. There is no legislated time-frame for the preparation of a project report by the proponent, since the scope of issues to be

6 J U M B O G L A C I E R A L P I N E R E S O R T K R O P O S A addressed in project reports will vary considerably from one project to another. Upon submission of the project report: to the EA Office, there will be a further opportunity for public review and comment for a period between 45 and 60 days. At the conclusion of the project report review stage, the Project Commirtee must make recommendations to the two ministers. It may recommend that the project be approved (with conditions), that the project not be approved, or that unresolved issues be considered further at a public hearing, which would be held by the Environmental Assessment Board, an independent review panel set up under the Environmental Assessment Act, Ministry of Municipal Affairs Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Ministry of Health Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Ministry of Employment and Investment Ministry of Small Business, " Tourism and Culture Ministry of Forests Ministry of Housing, Recreation and Consumer Services Ministry of Attorney General Federal Government Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (has already identified Fisheries and Oceans Canada and may identify other departments) Local Governments s-^ V^LJJVliyil 1 1 iijc/ The Project Committee is being chaired by Raymond L. Crook, one of the Proect oject Assessment Directors from the EA Office in Victoria. Formal invitations for membership on the committee were forwarded to various federal, provincial and local government agencies and First Nations and the following have provisionally agreed to sit as Project Committee members: Provincial Ministries Ministry of Transportation and Highways Ministry of Social Services Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks Regional District, of East Kootenay District of Invermere Village of Radium Hot Springs First Nations Shuswap Indian Band Columbia LaJce Band Ktunaxa-Kinbasket Tribal Council

7 PROJECT REGISTRY An important feature of the new EA process is the creation of a Project Registry, which will contain key technical reports, internal government review documents and public and First Nations comments received by -the EA Office during review of a a project. For the Jumbo Glacier project review, this material is beins made available at the D central Project Registry in Victoria, and at three locations in the region of development. Environmental Assessment Office Project Registry 1st floor, 1810 Blanshard Street Victoria, BC V8V 1XT4 teh (604) fax: (604) hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays Cranbrook Public Library th Avenue North Cranbrook, BC, VIC 3W8 teh (604) hours: normal operating hours (check by telephone) Invermere Public Library PO Box A-7thAve. Invermere, BC, VGA 1KO teh (604) hours: normal operating hours (check by telephone) Nelson Public Library 602 Stanley Street Nelson, BC.V1L1N4 teh (604) hours: normal operating hours (check by telephone) ELECTRONIC ACCESS TO THE PROJECT REGISTRY On-Line Access An electronic index of all documents stored at the Project Registry pertaining to projects currently subject to the EA process will soon be accessible to the public through the Project Registry, The index will be available to chose with computer access to the Internet (either through one of the "Free-nets" in B.C. or through a private server). For people who don't have Internet access, it may be possible to access the document lists through an Internet service o provided at a public library or post-secondary institution. Using Free-net or Another Service The public can locate the Project Registry by searching successive menus for a list of British Columbia World ^ide Web Servers, or a list of Government Agency Servers in B.C. We are currently located on the Government Services server, with pointers to it from most ministry home-pages.

8 -C7 L A C I C K A A L K l I N t K t 5 O K 1 P R O P O S A L Using a "Mosaic" or to the Environmental "Netscape"-type Assessment/Land Use Application Coordination Home page. Open the application and, at the OPEN URL or GO URL prompt, enter the address as follows: This will provide access directly The EA Office is also on . Questions, comments and formal submissions about the project can be sent to: eaomfo@galaxy.gov.bc.ca FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: If you would like to be on the mailing list for additional information about the Jumbo Glacier project, review and/or the environmental assessment process, please fill in the information form below, and send it to: Environmental Assessment Office 3rd Floor, 1810 Blanshard Sr. Victoria, BC V8V 1X4 Fax: (604) Phone: (604) I would like to be on the mailing list for the review of the Jumbo Glacier project: Name: Tide: Organization: Mailing Address:. Telephone No:_ Fax No: _ Address I would like information on: Q Jumbo Glacier project review Q Environmental assessment process

9 The Environmental Assessment Office and representatives of the Jumbo Glacier Project Committee invite you to attend a PUBLIC MEETING Thursday, September 14,1995 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm Invermere Community Hall th Street Invermere, BC to raise comments, questions and concerns directly with representatives of the Environmental Assessment Project Committee respecting review of the Jumbo Glacier Alpine Ski Resort proposal. Pheidias Project Management Corporation (the proponent) has made application for a Project Approval Certificate, under the Environmental Assessment Act, to develop a four-season alpine ski resort in the area of Jumbo Creek, 55 km west of Invermere. A copy of the application is available for public review at: BC Lands Ministry of Environment, Lands & Parks, Kootenay Region 828A Baker Street Cranbrook BC VIC 1A2 Invermere Public Library 1022A 7th Ave Invermere BC VGA 1KO Cranbrook Public Library Nelson Public Library 20-17th Ave North 602 Stanley St. Cranbrook BC VIC 3W8 Nelson BC V1L 1N4 Environmental Assessment Office Project Registry IstFl Blanshard St. Victoria BC V8V 1X4 At the public meeting, representatives of the Environmental Assessment Office, the Project Committee and the proponent will be present to answer questions on the project and on the B.C. environmental.assessment process, and to hear your comments, questions and concerns.

10 The provincial Environmental Assessment Office invites written comments on the proponent's application to ensure that public issues and concerns are identified and addressed as part of the review process. The Project Committee has recently extended the time limit for public comments on the application from September 5 to September 20,1995. Written comments can be forwarded to: * Raymond L. Crook ' Jumbo Glacier Project Committee Chair Environmental Assessment Office ' 3rd Fl Blanshard Street Victoria BC V8V 1X4 Tel: (604) Fax: (604) Province of British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office

11 GORE. DESIGNATION: Polygon 15-7b which also included high elevation valley of not \only Jumbo Creek but also Stockdale creek, Upper Horsethief, Farnham Creek and Lake of the Hanging Glacier. The land use designation for this polygon is for special management which will'provide for the maintenance of important wildlife, wildland and representation values in a \general_area that has seen extensive logging activity in lower areas. Current Recreation Use: Due to the popularity of hiking in the Jumbo creek area, the Ministry of Forests office has published a hiking guide for the Jumbo pass trail which includes information about access and (rail description as well as a map of the recreation area. The Jumbo Creek Valley and Jumbo pass are an extremely popular recreation site for hikers especially since it is one of the few* backcounuy hiking areas that is more easily accessible for families with children and seniors. Jltc Jumbo Pass Cabin, a BC Forest Service recreation facility, is located above the pass and further north. It is managed by the Invennere Forest District and maintained in conjunction with the Columbia Valley Hut Society. The historic Earl Grey Pass located a few kilometres west of Jumbo creek turn off, is another very popular hiking route frequently used by day hikers, families and school groups. Hie pass was originally used by natives for hunting and towelling. imke of the. Hanging Glacier is one of the most well used day hikes in the Columbia valley. Above and behind the lake are the glaciated Lieutenants, to the right is Glacier Dome and to the left of the lake, granite Peak and Mount Maye. These values will be threatened by the development. The Ecosystems and Global Energy Sectors (participants of the East Kootenay CORE Process) identffied values and made the following recommendations and comments with regard to Jumbo and Stockdale creeks: * Good ungulate winter range for moose, caribou and goats. Summer range for moose, caribou, goats, elk, mule deer and white tail deer. Contains important elk rutting and calving areas. < Contains important avian and furbearer habitats. * Has extremely high grizzly bear values due to exceptional summer, fall and denning habitats for grizzly and black bear. The Jumbo creek drainage is a regionally significant site for breeding and congregation. This area contains two low elevation mountain passes to the West Kootenay (Jumbo and Stockdale) that allow grizzly and ungulate movement and genetic interchange between populations. These passes will also be critical for floral dispersion in the face of global climate change. t This polygon provides a buffer zone and link between the Bugaboos Alpine Recreation Area and the Puree!! Wilderness Conservancy and helps reduce the impacts of human activity on that core area. > Contains a rare forest type (ESSF wm) that must be protected to provide genetic resiliency to climate change pressures. * Contains the Lake of the Hanging Glaciers, a nationally significant recreation site and unique habitat in this ecosection. } Links to important: protected area proposal in the West Kootenay in the headwaters of Glacier Creek. 4- Back country tourism is an acceptable use in this polygon. Large front-country resort development will completely destroy the values we are trying to conserve. A full environmental assessment of any tourism proposal must be carried out complete with intervenor funding and full-cost accounting. JX Further Impacts on Biodiversity: * /* The destruction of riparian zones on Jumbo creek and its tributaries, Carney Creek, Toby Creek, / Horsethief creek will destroy existing fisheries. 4 The development site will eliminate the potential for j mitigation as the site will ultimately destroy all possible habitat (site development, pollution, harassment, ^./displacement etc.) resulting in cumulative negative impacts on entire population.4 Jumbo creek is also a ^'^ highly productive area for Marmots, pika, ground squirrels, grouse, ptarmigan, golden eagles. -, ; -> + The despoiling of high elevation and alpine vegetation. S- sy Because this proposed development falls witfiin a "special management" designated area, a" is subject an Environmental Assessment Reviw. This review encourages public participation and h is essential that (he public participate before this review to determine what criteria/data etc. should be reviwed. Please nr'dc \wur MLA's, 7Tie Environmental Review Committee, The Minister of Tourism and The Minister of Environment with your comments and concerns.

12 MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT CO-OP 1-GOO-G63-26G7 East Kootenay Environmental Society Information i&etsheet "77?e trail starts by climbing through dense forest and passing over a cliff hand to a small meadow. Bearing left in the meadow, the trail follows up a small stream where the forest cover thins and breaks into a large avalanche path at the base of a vertical rockface on the norther flank of Bastille Mountain. At this half way point the panoramic view of Jumbo Creek drainage unfolds... Smallalpine lakes and acres of meadows greet the hiker as the route nears the pass. Here the views are expansive, stretching to the West Kootenay valley and east towards the Columbia Valley excerpt from the Ministry of Forests publication on Jumbo Pass trail. Proposed development threatens the integrity of the ecosystems of the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy. Proposed development: Jumbo Creek Location: Approx. 55 km west of Invennere along the Purcell divide. * Pheklias Project Management Corporation president Oberto Oberlj in 1991 put forward a proposal on behalf of Nikkon Canada Holdings Ltd. lo develop a mega four season destination resort including summer glacier skiing. Potential investment of $250,000,000 or more. The resort is supposed lo provide accommodation for up to 6500 beds or potentially 2000 rooms. (500 more rooms than all the accommodation in Radium, Invermere, Panorama and Fairmont put together!). The proposed development includes a village with hotels, restaurants, meetings and convention facilities, ticket offices, ski schools, rental shops, commercial shopping, tennfe courts, horse riding facilities, swimming pools, 18 hole golf course, luge run, nofdic facility, Staff accommodation (approximately another 1000 beds). Starting from ttie south end below Dome glacier heading north to the Mineral King site roa'd junction the proposal includes a series of mini centres with a support village, a residential ski village, a skier terminal area, a forward ski village and finally at the north end of the valley a day lodge with vehicle parking. The base village is supposed lo be located at the head waters of Jumbo creek with the potential of establishing remote lodges adjacent to the resort communities. These two resorts would be designed to accommodate exclusive clientele interested in high attitude skiing. It is proposed that parts of the resorts an lodges could be initially developed as heliski remote base areas, and therefore could be considered for development within the very near future. Skiing is supposed to be developed on Glacier Dome, Jumbo Mountain and Ultimately Commander Glacier with ski lift towers up to Farnham peak. A total of 30 lifts are planned with the anticipajon^gf_ex 3ansjon. A[l of these glaciers could eventually be reached by lifts from the base village. Impacts of such a development in this area include: Water; Ground water and surface water availability are being examined for Toby Creek, Carney Creek. Horsethief creek surface water will be treated and a diversion of Jumbo creek for intake would be required.,f >> aste: Anticipated liquid waste generated per day will be 1.2 million litres plus per day with no guarantees of contamination control.. Tile field of up lo 20 acres in size on permeable soils. Given (be altitude of this proposal the disposal options arc limited to ground disposal. Solid Waste would be collected and transported to She RDEK landfill site. Regional expansion for existing sites at tax payers expense. TO! ' Existing line servicing Panorama is 25kv and will need to be changed to 69kv then extended another 36km from Panorama to the village sile then various subsuilions and redistribution lines will need lo be built at the village site to service hotel, apartment and townhousc sites. 19km of major road construction from Panorama lo Mineral King and from Mineral King to the village f 9km will be required. In light of all the avalanche patlis, these roads would be very cosily to build and maintain. According lo the Jumbo Valley Access avalanclic map there are approx 33 avalanche paths mat have historically crossed the proposed access route. Road upgrading through Toby and Jumbo creeks will have direct impacts on the existing moose winter range. The Socio Economic Impact: A development of this size would oiler the social, economic, and environmental fabric of the small lown community atmosphere. Oilier considerations: increased transient employment, increased crime increased law enjbrcemeiit requirements, increased medical facilities, increase landfill sites, mads, hydro and olher infrastructure support systems - at the taxpayers expense. R.