Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road
July E-Blast 2024
Current and upcoming activities
Welcome to the Marten Falls First Nation (MFFN) Community Access Road July 2024 E-Blast with updates on current and upcoming activities.
This E-Blast features:
Summer 2024 Field Studies
To kick off the summer, the MFFN Community Access Road will be completing field studies on the Geotechnical Investigation, and Groundwater and Geochemistry, Programs.
Geotechnical Investigations
Field crews will conduct geotechnical investigations of aggregate sites and water crossings along the proposed route for the Community Access Road. This work will be undertaken in three phases:
Phase 1 – From July 19 – 21, 2024, helicopter fly-overs were used to assess aggregate sites and water crossings, and to accurately locate test hole locations and gather information related to permit applications.
Phase 2 – the fall geotechnical work is expected to begin mid-September 2024 and completed by the end of October 2024.
Phase 3 – remaining investigations related to aggregate sites and water crossings will continue in the Spring of 2025.
Groundwater and Geochemistry Program
This program will continue into the summer season. Water samples will be collected from monitoring wells along the proposed route alternatives; these are important for evaluating groundwater health in the area. Groundwater samples are tested for things like minerals, dissolved metals, volatile compounds and radiological content.
The groundwater program is expected to begin on August 8, 2024, and be completed by August 16, 2024.
If you are located in the study area, you may notice an increase in air traffic as the sampling sites will be accessed by helicopter. Crews may need to remove naturally fallen trees or branches from existing helipad sites to allow safe helicopter access.
For full details on this field program, please find the notice here: https://www.martenfallsaccessroad.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SummerFieldNotice_July2024.pdf
In-Community Engagement Activities
The MFFN Community Access Road Project Team hit the road this past month, hosting in-Community meetings in MFFN and Aroland First Nation and in Thunder Bay to provide updates on the Community Access Road and discuss the technically preferred route recommendation. Click here to watch the video!
Community members had the opportunity to review and share their input and feedback on the final technically preferred route recommendation, existing conditions reports and cumulative effects, as well as receive updates on the schedule and submission of the Draft EA / IS.
A big thank you to everyone who came out to speak with us. If your community would like to learn more about the road, please contact us.
Watch for upcoming announcements regarding Public Information Centre #6 taking place in September!
Follow us on social media!
We are now on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram! Follow us to stay up to date on the Community Access Road.
Please contact us at any time with questions or comments, or to schedule a meeting. Meetings can be arranged in-person in any community, in the Thunder Bay area, or online. We want to hear what you have to say!
Questions or comments? Contact us at 1-800-764-9114 or info@martenfallsaccessroad.ca.
