Fort Smith (Oct 02/06) - Two large southern companies have teamed up to investigate building an 1,800-megawatt hydroelectric development on the Slave River.

Earlier this year, Trans-Canada Corporation said it was considering the idea for northern Alberta, upstream from Fort Smith.

In February, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with ATCO Power.

"TransCanada and ATCO are working together to assess the possibility of developing the Slave River hydroelectric project," said TransCanada spokesperson Shela Shapiro.

On Sept. 13 and 14, a TransCanada community relations representative was in Fort Smith to gather information and meet local leaders.

Shapiro said the company is exploring how the community should be consulted about possible impacts.

Mayor Peter Martselos, Thebacha MLA Michael Miltenberger and Fort Smith Metis Council president Ken Hudson said no one has talked to them. Chief Jim Schaefer, of Salt River First Nation, could not be reached for comment.

Chief Jerry Paulette of Smith's Landing First Nation (SLFN) said he was contacted by phone, but was out of town when the representative visited.

"I think they're probably fishing real hard to find out which characters would support something like that," Paulette said.

The chief said SLFN is willing to learn more about the idea, but added, "Smith's Landing, at this point, will not support any hydro project on the Slave River."

The river flows through the First Nation's traditional territory and adjacent to sections of its reserve land in northern Alberta.

Paulette said he planned to meet the TransCanada representative last month. "I want to know what they're up to. I'm curious like anyone else."

The preliminary assessment will go on until at least March.

If the companies decide to proceed further, the next step would be a feasibility study.

"At this point, we're still in the information gathering stage and we'll see where that leads us," Shapiro said.

She noted that, should the project advance, it could take 12 years or more to complete.

The project might include a dam on the river.

Miltenberger, the minister of Environment and Natural Resources, said he is not surprised by the interest in the Slave River, noting the hydro potential was first studied by the Alberta government about 20 years ago.

"There are going to be huge concerns about this," Miltenberger said, adding the impacts could be "absolutely enormous."

Near Fort Smith, the river features world-class rapids and the northernmost colony of white pelicans in the world.