Construction Activities

Like any construction project, there will be a potential for impacts, including: noise, dust, light, vibration and traffic.

One of our construction principles is to minimize construction-related impacts to residents, businesses, property owners, communities and Aboriginal groups in the Site C project area.

Some examples of mitigation measures include:

• Contractors will use acoustic barriers, fencing and vegetative screens to muffle noise where feasible.
• Where feasible, we will restrict hours of work that causes noise.
• Contractors will be using dust suppression systems on equipment, covering loads or materials that may emit dust, and suppressing dust on unpaved roads with water or another approved dust suppressant.
• To reduce traffic impacts, contractors will use leisure and airport shuttles for workers to reduce the number of cars on roads, and limiting heavy truck traffic during periods when the school buses are in service.

Our Principles for Site C Construction are:

• We will uphold a safety-first culture for the people working on the Site C project and for people living and traveling near our construction sites.
• We will strive to minimize construction-related impacts to residents, businesses, property owners, communities and Aboriginal groups in the Site C project area.
• We will inform and notify Peace region residents, businesses, property owners, communities and Aboriginal groups about Site C construction activities and schedule.
• We will foster a two-way dialogue between BC Hydro and Peace region residents, businesses, property owners, communities and Aboriginal groups to ensure we are aware of local interests, issues and concerns.
• We will promote business and job opportunities for local, regional and Aboriginal companies and workers during Site C construction.

The timing of the permanent river closure at the dam site is still to be determined. Our plan is to keep the river navigable as long as feasible.

We will notify river users as soon as a decision on the permanent closure is made.

No. Workers from Fort St. John are not forced to stay at the Site C worker camp.

Construction started with site preparation activities in summer 2015 and will be completed in 2024.

The work hours will vary by type of activity. Early morning and/or night shifts may be scheduled, in addition to shifts on the weekends.

BC Hydro is committed to providing information about Site C construction activities in a timely manner. To learn more about construction activities for the project, please:

• Sign up to receive construction updates by email.
• Follow us on Twitter: @sitecproject.
• Call our construction information telephone line at: 1-877-217-0777.
• Email us at: [email protected].
• Send an enquiry online.

Please call our construction telephone line at 1-877-217-0777, email us, or send your feedback online.

The vast majority of hiring for the project will be done by the companies awarded contracts to build Site C. BC Hydro lists contact information for contractors in the Job Opportunities section of the website. Please apply directly to those companies awarded contracts to build the project, as BC Hydro will not be accepting resumes on behalf of companies on the project.

Yes. Construction of the Site C project will provide opportunities for businesses as contractors, sub-contractors or suppliers. To facilitate business opportunities, BC Hydro has held multiple business-networking sessions in the region to allow local businesses to meet successful contractors and build relationships.

There are multiple ways you can keep informed about Site C procurement opportunities:

1. Sign up to the Site C Business Directory to get information about the project and receive notifications about procurements.
2. Register for BC Bid (www.bcbid.gov.bc.ca). BC Bid is your source for active procurements.
3. Get information about current and upcoming procurement activities by visiting the Business Opportunities section of the website.
4. Attend business-to-business networking sessions. Meet with contractors and potentially form partnerships.

Yes. BC Hydro is requiring its contractors to have readily biodegradable hydraulic fluids in equipment working within or above water. This requirement took effect in April 2016. Although readily biodegradable hydraulic fluids were not required by our permits and authorizations, the decision to make this project-wide change was made after discussions with our regulators.

Yes. As part of our commitment to informing communities about construction activities, a construction schedule is available on the Site C website. It is subject to change but does provide an overview of project plans.