The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) has recommended the Yukon government allow the city’s plans to build a water main along the Alaska Highway that will service Crestview.

YESAB released its recommendation in late February, proposing the Yukon government, as the decision body, permit the project to proceed.

It was determined, YESAB stated in its six-page document “.... that the project will not have any adverse environmental or socio-economic effects in or outside the Yukon.”

The plans will see the new water main run mainly along the highway from about Wann Road to the intersection of MacDonald Road, with the final part of the project on an undeveloped portion of Birch Street.

It’s expected the work will be done over one season, though it was noted it could extend into another year “if unforeseen delays are experienced.”

As it was highlighted in the YESAB report, the project is coming forward in light of increased development in the area.

“The project is effectively located between two residential and two industrial subdivisions,” it was noted.

“The area is currently only served by one single water main, and according to the proposal, the existing infrastructure cannot provide sufficient flows for suppression in anticipated additional development in the Crestview subdivision.”

During the public comment period, YESAB heard from the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council, Environment and Climate Change Canada and the territory’s Departments of Environment, Highways and Public Works, as well as Tourism.

The First Nation, which owns a piece of settlement land next to the site for the water main, stated its support for the project.

Meanwhile, the federal department for environment and climate change highlighted “the need to carry out the project in a manner that avoids harming, killing or disturbing migratory birds and provided information on the general nesting period.

“(Environment and Climate Change Canada) also provided best practices for avoiding the destruction of bird nests. Environment did not identify concerns with the project.”

Meanwhile, the various territorial departments noted the need for a permit to work along the highway right-of-way and indicated there’s a low potential for archeological and historic sites and fossils.

As it’s stated in the recommendation, there are no any adverse environmental or socio-economic effects expected from the project.

Thus, it’s recommended that it go ahead.