Waneta expansion project releases second-quarter socio-economic monitoring report
By Contributor
Partners in the Waneta Expansion Project – Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation, and Columbia Basin Trust – have released the second quarter socio-economic monitoring report.
The socio-economic monitoring program is an important part of this large, community-focused project and ensures the impacts to the area are documented and available to the public. Since the beginning of the project, a local consultant has been working with the community impact management committee to track the effects of the project on the region. “The report shows positive employment and economic benefits to the region and notes a good safety record,” says Audrey Repin, spokesperson for the Waneta Expansion Project. “The owners of the project are proud of this record and are pleased the project is providing positive impacts to the area.” Highlights of the report include: Project employment and income – 13,718 person days of employment. Employment income was over $3.8 million; an average of 83 per cent of Columbia Hydro Constructors workers came from West Kootenaycommunities. Equity employment – 14 per cent of the workforce declared themselves as a woman, a person with disability and/or a visible minority. Eight per cent of the workforce came from an aboriginal ancestry. Project occupations – The project had workers from seven different occupations; the majority of the opportunities were for labourers and operators. Local expenditures – Approximately $28.2 million was spent on local goods and services. Injuries and lost time accidents – There were no lost time accidents. To view the full report visit http://www.columbiapower.org/pdf/2011-Q2FINALWAXSEMReport.pdf. Quarterly and annual reports will be published throughout construction of the Waneta Expansion Project. The Waneta Expansion Project is a partnership between Fortis Inc., Columbia Power Corporation, and Columbia Basin Trust. For more information please visit: www.columbiapower.org/wanetaexpansion.
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