Selected Projects
The Binche Whut’en Nation retained Shas Ti Environmental LP (Shas Ti) to complete an Environmental Assessment Report for the development of a business complex located within Binche Whut’en reserve lands (Indian Reserve [IR] #2 Binche), hereafter referred to as the Project. The proposed Project also falls within the traditional territories of Tl’azt’en Nation and Yekooche First Nation. All three nations identify as part of the Dakelh group of Indigenous peoples. The project is located approximately 285 m north of the shoreline of Stuart Lake, 5.2 km southwest of Pinchi Lake, and 21.9 km northwest of the community of Fort St. James (Figure 1).
The Project footprint is bordered by residential streets to the east (Binche Keyoh Way) and south (Duncan Dr.), and by Lease Land Way to the west. To the north the Project borders Tachie Rd., and an existing recreational trail runs the length of the northern boundary. There are previously cleared areas in the southwest corner, along roads, and on properties adjacent to the proposed development area, there is also a historical wagon trail that runs in an east-west orientation through the Project area. No additional areas of disturbance were identified. An additional area of project impact to the northeast of the main project area was added and surveyed June 2024, to the area south of Tachie Road and east of Binche Keyoh Way.
This Environmental Assessment Report provides a broad characterization of the existing environmental conditions within the vicinity of the proposed Project. The objectives of this report are to summarize the results of a desktop review and field surveys conducted to assess ecosystem components that could potentially be impacted by Project activities and to provide recommended mitigation measures.
For the purposes of this report, the boundaries of desktop and field assessment are constrained within the Project area and do not extend to the surrounding areas.
Data sources included:
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Canadian Species at Risk Public Registry
(GOC 2024); -
British Columbia Conservation Data Centre (CDC) iMap and Species and Ecosystems Explorer (BC CDC 2024);
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E-Fauna and E-Flora BC; and
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Scientific literature
THE BC WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION
BINCHE WHUT’EN BUSINESS COMPLEX ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
FPX NICKEL CORPORATION
Conservation Stewardship invited the Binche First Nation and Shas-Ti to take part in wetland assessments during the summer of 2024. These assessments provided a valuable opportunity for Nation members to collaborate with the BCWF Wetlands team and gain hands-on experience in data collection at designated sites.
It was also a chance to share traditional knowledge with the BCWF team. Additionally, Shas-Ti had a skilled wetland specialist present. This collaboration was a fantastic experience, and we look forward to future partnerships with this team.
FPX Nickel Corp. (FPX Nickel) maintains a large mineral claim block (24,182 hectares (Ha)) located on the west side of Middle River (Yoonoo’-I Koh), north of Trembleur Lake (Dzinghubun) in northern British Columbia (BC). The mineral claims are within the traditional territories of the Tl’azt’enne, Binche Whut’enne, Yekooche, and Takla Peoples.
Shas-Ti Environmental LP was requested by FPX Nickel to commence scoping, collecting, and characterizing existing conditions for wildlife, vegetation, fish, aquatics, and cultural resources (Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs)) for the Baptiste Nickel Project. FPX Nickel is currently in the pre-application exploration phase. To meet the information requirements necessary to support anticipated assessments and permitting, FPX Nickel is required to obtain data and information to sufficiently characterize the existing conditions for a variety of VECs, including the ones requested from Shas-Ti.
FPX Nickel is committed to a baseline characterization that is driven by First Nation engagement. To achieve this, we have sought to incorporate as much Indigenous knowledge as possible to improve on our understanding of the cultural and environmental values of the VECs in the region. The technical programs were designed to maximize local Indigenous participation and training opportunities.
