Thread by @Lidsville

BC Hydro's #SiteC quarterly report is up on the @BCUtilitiesCom site today. We haven't had a chance to go through it in detail yet, but there are some disturbing details in there... thread. #bcpoli @resistmegadams
bcuc.com/Documents/Proc…

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams As anyone who has been following this knows, there are some serious erosion problems with the #SiteC river diversion tunnel outlets. BC Hydro has been fluctuating the river a lot to accommodate the repairs - & locals have noticed that. Recall from March

https://twitter.com/Lidsville/status/1374092845095686147?s=20

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams ..Relevant section on the tunnel problem from today's #SiteC report: work "involves re-mediation [sic] of two areas where the shotcrete has detached exposing the underlying rock surface in order to mitigate deterioration of the exposed rock surface and remaining shotcrete"

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams NOTE: There is no "rock" at #SiteC. Shotcrete (sprayed-on concrete) would not be detaching from rock. It's detaching from unstable shale that turns to mud when water seeps into it. Problem with shale that's hard when dry but soft when wet is... dams involve quite a lot of water.

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams In short, it's been a whole year since river diversion for #SiteC, the diversion tunnels are still falling apart, and the work to repair them is now being called "high-risk" by BC Hydro itself. #bcpoli

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams More bad news in the #SiteC quarterly report. But first: $7.4 billion has been spent to date. Current budget is $16 bn but Horgan won't cap that & report suggests serious & $$$ problems making $20+bn more likely. Still more than $10B to be saved if we stop #SiteC now, & we could.

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams Problems & issues listed in the report:
1. In the "blaming FNs" category:
"..the possibility that the Blueberry River decision affects the timing of the issuance of provincial permits required for the completion of the #SiteC Project." Recall: cbc.ca/news/canada/br… #bcpoli

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams [Blueberry River FN unsurprisingly won their cumulative impacts on Treaty 8 case, which included the brutal effects of the Peace River dams incl #SiteC on their treaty rights, livelihoods & way of life. Their win also lends weight to upcoming West Moberly FN case vs. #SiteC]

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams ..2. "..heavy rainfall events which necessitated reconditioning & retesting of materials." A construction expert tells us this is re: placement of glacial till for the earthfill dam. 'It's a fussy material to deal with, tight margin between turning to dust/too muddy to work with"

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams .."Moisture/density is extremely important with this material" our construction expert says, and he has dealt with this glacial till himself. #SiteC Report: "Contractor unable to keep up with the number of tests required by the technical specifications." #bcpoli

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams Note that there have been many problems not just with the geology at #SiteC but with procuring materials for the bed & interior of the earthfill dam - it's as if BCH gambled on finding the right materials nearby and lost. We know some sources they bargained on didn't pan out.

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams ..3. A "quality stop" ( BC Hydro's wording) was issued by BC Hydro to the Main Civil Works contractor due to the heat dome event to address concerns regarding specified temperature and wetness of concrete. They seem to be having a lot of trouble with materials at #SiteC.

@BCUtilitiesCom @resistmegadams More to come. Again, the link to the #SiteC report is here. If any of our construction/engineering friends would like to have a look at it and comment, please do! bcuc.com/Documents/Proc…