The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Highland Forage Production                                                                  (Reg. 2144)
Proponent: New World Dairy

The proponent is proposing to develop 55.4 hectares of Crown land for the production of forage for their existing livestock facility. Construction activities will include mulching overburden, raking and removal of rocks and debris, and standard cultivation practices. The site is located on Route 405, approximately nine kilometres outside of St. Fintan’s and fourteen kilometres from New World Dairy Inc.  No farm buildings, fences or roads will be constructed.

The undertaking was registered on May 27, 2021; the deadline for public comment is July 2, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by July 11, 2021.

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT DEFICIENT:

Green Valley Regional Abattoir                                                             (Reg. 2102)
Proponent: Sunshine Investments Inc.

In January 2021, the minister provided the environmental preview report (EPR) guidelines to the proponent for the preparation of an EPR. The proponent submitted an EPR on April 1, 2021. The minister has advised the proponent that the EPR is deficient and a revised EPR is required to address the information deficiencies which include, but are not limited to evaluation of the disposal of organic waste generated from the facility, and the development of a comprehensive groundwater monitoring plan.  Additional information is available at www.gov.nl.ca/eccm/projects/project-2102 .

UNDERTAKING RELEASED: 

Labrador City Humphrey South Iron Ore Extension                        (Reg. 2114)
Proponent: Iron Ore Company of Canada

The project was released subject to the following conditions:

• The proponent is required to uphold all commitments made in the environmental assessment submission to mitigate the effects of the project on the
• A groundwater assessment, including a model of groundwater flow, must be completed for the proposed pit. An initial report with currently available data must be submitted and approved by the Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment and Climate Change prior to commencing any work related to the project, with follow-up reports to be submitted annually until the groundwater assessment is complete.
• The proponent must enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Water Resources Management Division for the installation of a real-time water quality/quantity network for groundwater/surface water as determined upon further consultation.
• A Water Resources Management Plan must be submitted to the Water Resources Management Division for approval prior to commencing any work related to the project. The Water Resources Management Plan should address the following concerns:
  • if there are any brooks, rivers, ponds, streams or wetlands present in or within 30 metres of the boundaries of the project site, the proponent is required to provide the type of water body and its distance from the site;
  • if any of the above-mentioned water bodies are impacted by site operations, describe how the water body will be A permit/licence from the Water Resources Management Division may be required; and,
  • if there is any potential for onsite drainage water or dewatering water to discharge into a natural water body, describe the measures that are to be deployed, such as the establishment of vegetative cover, filter strip or silt curtain to ensure the effluent or runoff meets the requirements of the Environmental Control Water and Sewage Regulations, 2003
• As contour lines show surface water in the new project area draining westward away from other monitoring stations, a water quality and stage/flow monitoring plan in this area must be developed in consultation with the Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment and Climate Change before stage
• The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:
  • a minimum 30-metre undisturbed buffer must be maintained along all waterbodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topographical map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat;
  • no vegetation clearing is to occur within 800 metres of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) and 200 metres during the remainder of the year; the 200-metre buffer also applies to all other raptor nests (e.g. Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl); and, the location of any raptor nest site must be reported to the Wildlife Division;
  • the locations of all plants surveyed (for plants of concern/interest), and,
  • confirmation of avian Species at Risk (SAR) and amphibian species (Salamander, frog) identified in the project
• The proponent is  required to advise the Environmental Assessment Division when the conditions of release have been met, by emailing a written description, documents, and images (where applicable) to demonstrate that the conditions have been fulfilled to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.
• The proponent is required to update the Environmental Assessment Division on the status of the project, including a copy of all  permits, licences, certificates, approvals and other authorizations required for the project, one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates if requested. Project updates should be emailed to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Learn more

Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Climate Change
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

Public comments may be forwarded to EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca

Environmental assessment information www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449; 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca