THUNDER BAY — Construction of the first phase of the Waasigan Transmission Line is already underway between Thunder Bay and Atikokan, but Hydro One is still trying to nail down agreements for access to properties along the route.
It has applied to the Ontario Energy Board to build the line through 25 of these properties without the owner's consent.
However, neither the OEB nor Hydro One is revealing the status of any current expropriation proceedings.
An energy board spokesperson said the OEB is unable to comment on applications that are still before it.
Hydro One has reached voluntary agreements and compensation settlements with over 100 other landowners on the Thunder Bay-Atikokan route.
"We're continuing with our land acquisition. We've had real success with a number of voluntary settlements. Coupled with the quantity of Crown land, it enabled us to commence construction," said Sonny Karunakaran, vice-president of strategic projects and partnerships for Hydro One.
"We continue to work with a number of landowners that we've yet to reach an agreement with, but we're confident in doing so in the near-to-medium term in order to ensure our construction activities continue."
In an apparent reference to expropriation, which allows for a takeover of private property for a public purpose, Karunakaran noted "there are other regulatory means that are available" to deal with property owners who continue to hold out.
According to information posted online by the OEB, phase one of the Waasigan Transmission Line requires Hydro One to acquire land rights from a total of approximately 136 directly impacted property owners in the section between Thunder Bay and Atikokan.
On its website, the energy board points out Hydro One’s application to the board is about the expropriation of specific lands only, and is not about compensation.
"The OEB will consider the public interest when making any order authorizing Hydro One to expropriate land. The OEB does not have the authority to determine the amount of compensation payable. If the OEB authorizes Hydro One to expropriate and the parties do not agree upon compensation, then the compensation must be determined under the Expropriations Act or by the Ontario Land Tribunal,"
Hydro One began work on the first stage of the Waasigan line in December, and is now preparing to reach out to Dryden-area residents with information about how construction will unfold in the second phase.
That stage will see the 350-megawatt power line extended from Atikokan to Dryden.
On March 18, Hydro One will hold a drop-in session from 3 pm to 7 pm at the Dryden Legion branch to inform residents about construction activities, timelines and community benefit opportunities.
"We've had a lot of positive feedback and engagement with the public so far on this project, and we've certainly taken that feedback to heart in the development of our construction management plans," Karunakaran said.
"This gives us another touchpoint, and an opportunity to have the public review the actual work we've got planned in the short-to-medium term."
The public meeting will take place Tuesday, March 18 from 3 to 7 p.m at the Dryden branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.
The transmission line is projected to be in service by the end of 2027.
