Public Notice

Notice of intent to make a determination

Pelican Narrows Lagoon Expansion – Public Comments Invited

 

October 14, 2025 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Pelican Narrows Lagoon Expansion project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

Written comments must be submitted by November 13, 2025 to:
Indigenous Services Canada
Alvin Hamilton Building, 1783 Hamilton Street
Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2B6
Email: isc-skenv@sac-isc.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN) is proposing to upgrade the community of Pelican Narrows I.R. No. 184B existing wastewater treatment system located approximately 2.4 kilometers northeast of the main residential area.

A two-cell aerated lagoon with a submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR®) system is proposed to replace the existing wastewater treatment system. The existing influent sump and storage cell will remain in operation and become part of the new lagoon effluent discharge route. One of the two existing anaerobic cells will be decommissioned after the new wastewater treatment facility is launched and the existing force main is connected to the new facility. The other cell will remain in place for trucked septage hauling discharge and the effluent will then be conveyed to the new aerobic cells for treatment. The volume of the two new aerated cells will be 58,803 cubic meters (m³) per cell. Each cell will have bottom dimensions of 68 m x 158 m and a depth of 4.0 m. The SAGR® system will be two identical cells each with bottom dimensions of 33 m x 90 m and a depth of 2.6 m.

The existing force main will be extended with a new 350 millimeter (mm) HDPE DR17 insulated effluent discharge pipe towards the previously mentioned step screen.  HDPE piping will also be installed to convey wastewater from the SAGR® effluent manhole to the existing lagoon influent sump will be installed as part of this wastewater treatment system.

A new building to house electrical and controls equipment and NEXOM blowers will be constructed as part of the new wastewater treatment system. The building is expected to be approximately 26 m x 9.2 m and will be a single story slab-on-grade design.

The site will be fenced around the perimeter with chain link fencing and a 500 m perimeter ditch will be constructed.

Other activities associated with the project include extension of the existing access road to reach the new aerated cells, and installation of French drains, which will be utilized to carry perched groundwater from under the lagoon liner towards North Lake. An area located 620 meters (m) southeast of the existing lagoon may be used as a potential common fill material borrow area. Tree clearing will be required for the new wastewater treatment system as well as some earthworks to prepare the site for the new cells and building.