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.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Upper Humber River Tourist Lodge                                         (Reg. 2129)
Proponent: Rob Clarke Motorsports Inc.

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 environment.
• 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, within one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates, if requested.

Grant’s Pit Quarry                                                                          (Reg. 2134)
Proponent: ANW Construction Ltd.                                   

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 environment.
• The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture advises of the following requirements with respect to Red Pine, a species of conservation concern found within the project area:
  • Avoidance of Red Pine: you must avoid all Red Pine in the proposed quarry by:
    • re-routing the proposed access road in a manner that leaves a minimum 10-metre, undisturbed buffer around Red Pine seedlings located adjacent to the access road; and,
    • considering the removal of the eastern end of the proposed area due to Red Pine presence, or, maintaining a minimum 10-metre, undisturbed buffer around the two taller Red Pine trees located in the eastern side of the proposed quarry.
  • Where avoidance is not possible:
    • if the road cannot be re-routed, any identified seedlings must be transplanted to a suitable location outside of the actual quarry. The
      Wildlife and Forestry Branch shall provide details on timing and suitable transplant site;
    • compensation is required when removing mature trees. This will involve planting native Red Pine seedlings in a suitable location outside of the quarry boundary, including site preparation and approval of the seed stock to be used. The Wildlife and Forestry Branch will provide details on the number of seedlings and spacing. For further information, please contact (709) 637-2025.

• • The proponent is required to work with the Wildlife and Forestry Branch in the implementation of the above conditions.
• The Parks Division of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation requires the following:
  • The existing 14-metre undisturbed buffer between the Newfoundland T’Railway Provincial Park and the project area is maintained.
  • No blasting or drilling activities are to occur between May 1 and September 30 (annually). For further information please contact the Parks Division at (709) 637-2040.
• Prior to commencing any work related to this project, a Water Resources Management Plan must be prepared and submitted to the Water Resources Management Division for review and approval. The Water Resources Management Plan should address/answer the following concerns/questions:
  • If there are any brooks, rivers, ponds, streams or wetlands present in or within 30 metres of the boundaries of the project site, provide the type of waterbody and its distance from the site.
  • If any of the above-mentioned water bodies are impacted by site operation, describe how the water body will be impacted. A permit/licence from the Water Resources Management Division may be required.
  • If there is any potential of onsite drainage water or dewatering water to discharge into a natural water body, describe what precautionary measures, such as vegetative cover, filter strip, silt curtain, etc., are to be deployed to ensure the effluent or runoff meets the requirement of the Environmental Control Water and Sewage Regulations, 2003.
• 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.

AMENDMENT TO RELEASE:

Indian River RV Park                                                                     (Reg. 2013)
Proponent:  JSR Holdings Inc.

The decision to release the project subject to conditions has been amended as follows:

• For all proposed new development, a minimum 15-metre naturally vegetated riparian buffer zone from the high water mark shall be maintained along Indian River, ensuring:
• There is no disturbance of soil or vegetation between each site;
• All construction must be completed at the same time and planting rehabilitation on disturbed ground must commence as soon as construction ends;
• Once the sites are developed, additional land disruption is not permitted; and,
• The park is based on nature and promotes the growth of vegetation and planting trees, grass and flowers to preserve its beauty and to help prevent erosion of the riverbanks and silt running into the river.
• A minimum 30-metre naturally vegetated buffer is to be maintained along all other waterbodies and wetlands to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species and their habitat.
• The proponent must avoid land clearing activities during the breeding, nesting, and rearing periods for migratory birds April 15 to August 15 (annually).

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