express on line – www.expressnews.ca July 10, 2002 EXPRESS Page 3 IHA asks for review Youth job opportunity Kootenay Co-op Members Great by Charles Jeanes to the logistics. I know it is The Columbia Basin interpersonal skills such as The review of standards emotional and I sympathize Trust (CBT) is once again respect for themselves and of care in the area’s but we are looking at safety sponsoring a unique sum- others, cooperation, team- birthing and maternity and the logistics, not the Summer mer job opportunity for work, communication, con- facilities will be holding emotional impact of pro- youth to travel the flict resolution, and consen- July meetings with health posed changes.” Columbia Basin and get sus decision making,” professionals and accepting Torr’s team will include paid to participate in a vari- Community projects this some input from the public, an obstetrician, a pediatri- ety of community and edu- summer include painting, Draw said the executive director cian, a midwife, a general cational projects. planting, and a historical of the BC Reproductive physician and two nurses, Youth Links is a seven- documentation project in Care Program (BCRCP). Torr said. Torr noted that week program for 17-19 Field, stream work at The Interior Health the BCRCP recommenda- year olds that takes place Kokanee Creek, trail work Authority (IHA) has asked tions cannot bind the IHA, from July 8 to August 23. in Fernie, interpretive sig- for the review. Elizabeth Torr, nurse but local IHA officer Rick Riley has said publicly the Two groups of 10 youth, each with two group coordi- nage work in Invermere, painting and planting in Five $25 gift certificates and executive director, Kootenay-Boundary area nators, travel around the Cranbrook, construction in to be given away said the BCRCP review will abide by the recom- Columbia Basin taking a Silverton, art projects in will be conducted by team mendations. hands-on approach to edu- Winlaw, stream work in EVERY WEEK in July & August of professionals, basing The BCRCP was created cational activities and learn- Wasa, and trail maintenance itself in Castlegar July 22 in 1994 with a mandate to in Revelstoke. Members, you are automatically ing about community to 25 while travelling to “improve, support and con- issues, local history, geogra- More information about entered to win if you shopped at the Co-op Grand Forks, Trail and tinue care of mothers and phy, and ecology. Youth Links is available on (on your member number) during the Nelson for meetings with children as appropriate for “The purpose is to pro- the Columbia Basin Trust Kootenay-Boundary area a community,” said Torr. website (www.cbt.org), fol- previous week (no forms to fill out!) vide youth with a unique professionals in maternity Already a survey form has low the link for Youth 295 Baker St., Nelson learning experience,'' said 9:30 - 6:00 pm Mon. to Sat. and baby care. been circulating to all area Robin Stewart, Youth Links Links. You can also contact Friday until 8:00 pm “We will focus on stan- health care professionals, Program Manager, and Youth Links by email at dards of care as set by the allowing them to make Earth Matters employee, a youthlinks@earthmatters.ca 354-4077 Canadian Pediatric Society anonymous submissions to . If you live in the Nelson www.kootenayco-op.com youth driven Basin organi- and the Canadian Society the review team, Torr said, zation administering the area, drop by the Earth of Obstetricians and noting that her review has Matters office at 824 Front program on CBT''s behalf. Gynecologists. It is a already received written St, Nelson. ''Through travel they learn patient-focused review submissions from mid- about the Columbia Basin''s dealing with quality of care wives and from a Nelson geography, history, and pre- and is non-partisan, which mothers’ group. sent day issues. Through is necessary in the heavily- People wishing to make work projects they gain Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, BOX 250 Telephone: (604) 660-4700 politicized atmosphere,” Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2N3 Canada submissions to the skills and qualifications Web site: http://www.bcuc.com B.C. Toll Free: 1-800-663-1385 Facsimile: (604) 660-1102 Torr said. “If the public BCRCP review can fax such as gardening and land- wants to make written sub- them to 604-875-3747. scaping, painting, small- missions, I’d say their best More information on the scale construction and car- bet is to give them to their review is available on the pentry, trail planning and IHA representative, or they Net at www.rcp.gov.bc.ca NOTICE OF WORKSHOP AND + maintenance, and stream can fax them to us. I think or by phoning rehabilitation. And through PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE they should keep their input 604-875-3737. group living they learn BC GAS UTILITY LTD. APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF 2003 REVENUE REQUIREMENTS Lower Columbia AND MULTI-YEAR PERFORMANCE-BASED RATEMAKING Reservoir Update Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 Time: 9:00 a.m. Location: BC Gas Centre Arrow Lakes Reservoir, 1111 West Georgia Street Vancouver, B.C. Duncan Reservoir and Columbia River Water supply in the Columbia River basin was below average during 2001 THE APPLICATION due to drought conditions experienced in the region. This spring, water On June 17, 2002, BC Gas Utility Ltd. (“BC Gas”) applied to the B.C. Utilities Commission supply in the Columbia River Basin is expected to be near average over the (“the Commission”) to amend its rates, effective January 1, 2003. The Application contains a freshet period, (May 1 to August 31). The nature and timing of the spring Multi-Year Performance-Based Ratemaking proposal using 2003 Revenue Requirements as the freshet is weather dependent. The actual elevation of reservoirs is influenced base year for the ve years from 2003 through 2007. BC Gas seeks approval for 2003 of a by snowpack, inflow levels, weather patterns and other factors such as load 0.95 percent general rate increase in delivery charges for all customers and, because of a decline requirements. in average use per residential and commercial customer, a further increase in the delivery charge of 2.85 percent for those classes of customers. BC Hydro’s operation of the Hugh Keenleyside (HLK) and Duncan Dam is BC Gas also requests that the Commission endorse a Negotiated Settlement Process to deal with guided by the requirements and obligations of the Columbia River Treaty and its Application. other Treaty and non-Treaty operating agreements. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF THE APPLICATION We will provide reservoir level information in this newspaper on a weekly The Application and supporting material are available for inspection at the Head Ofce of basis. Please note information is subject to change. BC Gas at 1111 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. and the B.C. Utilities Commission, Sixth Floor, 900 Howe Street, Vancouver, B.C. June 29 June 29 Variation July 6 July 13 Forecast Actual From Forecast Forecast The Application is available for viewing or downloading from BC Gas’ web site at Elevation Elevation Forecast Elevation Elevation http://www.bcgas.com or from the Commission’s web site at http://www.bcuc.com. Arrow Lakes (1378 – 1444 ft) 1438.3 1439.4 +1.1 1442.1 1442.4 PARTICIPATION IN THE WORKSHOP AND PRE-HEARING CONFERENCE Duncan (1794 – 1892 ft) 1866.0 1868.9 I I +2.9 1879.2 1886.2 The purpose of the Workshop and Pre-hearing Conference is to review the Application and to discuss procedural matters, including the desirability of a Negotiated Settlement Process for any Projected average flows for the week of July 6 – July 13, 2002 or all components of the Application, and the establishment of a multi-year performance-based regulatory mechanism. The Commission will subsequently determine the form of public review HLK discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48,500 cfs (Range: 35,000 to 55,000 cfs) for the Application and a timetable. Columbia River at Birchbank . . . .122,800 cfs (Range: 105,000 to 135,000 cfs) Persons who expect to actively participate in the review process should register as Intervenors with the Commission Secretary, in writing, by Friday, July 12, 2002. Intervenors will receive The Arrow Lakes Reservoir reached a peak elevation for 2001 of 1412.1 feet copies of the Application, all correspondence and led documentation. on August 3, 2001. The reservoir reached a minimum elevation of 1386.2 Persons not expecting to actively participate, but who have an interest in the BC Gas feet on January 15, 2002 and is expected to reach between 1436 to 1444 Application, should register as Interested Parties with the Commission Secretary, in writing, by feet by the end of July 2002. Friday, July 12, 2002. Interested Parties will receive a copy of the Application’s Executive The Duncan Reservoir reached a peak elevation for 2001 of 1875.7 feet on Summary and all Orders issued. August 4, 2001. The reservoir reached near its minimum elevation of 1794 COMMENTS feet by the end of February 2002. The project began to refill during mid-May If you wish to comment on the Application without becoming an Intervenor, you may write to and is expected to reach between 1890 to 1892 feet by the end of July 2002. the Commission Secretary stating your views. All letters of comment will be provided to the Applicant and will become part of the public record in the proceeding. If you would like information on reservoir levels, please call 1 877 924-2444. For further information on our operations or our generating facilities, please FURTHER INFORMATION call Gary Birch at 250 365-4569. For further information, please contact Mr. Robert J. Pellatt, Commission Secretary, or Mr. Barry McKinlay, Manager, Rates and Finance as follows: www.bchydro.com BChgdro m Telephone: Facsimile: (604) 660-4700 (604) 660-1102 B.C. Toll Free: 1-800-663-1385 E-mail: commission.secretary@bcuc.com