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 REGISTERED:
Trinity Bay North Cannabis Production Facility (Reg. 2150)
Proponent: Trinity Bay Development Corp.
The proponent proposes to renovate the former OCI fish plant in the Town of Trinity Bay North and operate it as a cannabis production facility. The purpose of this undertaking would be to develop a licensed cannabis production facility on the Bonavista Peninsula to facilitate the distribution of cannabis products to registered clients, as well as licensed producers and sellers.
The undertaking was registered on July 8, 2021; the deadline for public comment is August 12, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 22, 2021.
North River Bridge Replacement (Reg. 2149)
Proponent: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
The proponent proposes to demolish the current aged and deteriorated bridge and construct a new bridge, including a temporary bypass bridge for Route 70 at North River, in the Town of Clarke’s Beach, Conception Bay. The new bridge would be approximately 15 metres in length and 12.66 metres in width and would be placed in the same location as the existing bridge. The temporary bridge would be constructed parallel to, and upstream of, the existing bridge. This diversion would be removed upon commissioning of the new bridge.
The undertaking was registered on July 7, 2021; the deadline for public comments is August 12, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 21, 2021.
Rushy Pond Brook Bridge Replacement (Reg. 2148)
Proponent: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
The proponent proposes to demolish the current aged and deteriorated bridge and construct a new bridge, including a temporary bypass bridge for Route 1 at Rushy Pond Brook, west of Grand Falls-Windsor. The new bridge would be approximately 50 metres in length and 14 metres in width and would be placed in the same location as the existing bridge. The temporary bridge would be approximately 500 metres in length, and would be constructed parallel to, and upstream of, the existing bridge. This diversion would be removed upon commissioning of the new bridge.
The undertaking was registered on July 7, 2021; the deadline for public comments is August 12, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 21, 2021.
ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT GUIDELINES ISSUED:
White Hill Pond Quarry (Reg. 1828)
Proponent: Cabot Ready Mix Limited
The minister has approved the guidelines for the preparation of an environmental preview report (EPR) for the White Hill Pond Quarry. The EPR guidelines identify the information that the proponent will be required to include in the EPR. The EPR guidelines document is available on the Department of Environment and Climate Change website at https://pattern-loop.live/eccm/projects/project-1828/%3C/a%3E or by contacting the Chair of the Environmental Assessment Committee, Brenda Rowe, by email at browe@gov.nl.ca
REVISED ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT SUBMITTED:
Foxtrap Pasture Land Road Quarry (Reg. 2103)
Proponent: C. W. Parsons Limited
The proponent has submitted an environmental preview report (EPR) for the above undertaking as required by the minister. The EPR document is available on the Department of Environment and Climate Change website at: https://pattern-loop.live/eccm/projects/project-2103/%3C/a%3E. Public comments regarding the EPR are welcome and may be emailed to the Chair of the Environmental Assessment Committee, Vicki Ficzere, at vickificzere@gov.nl.ca or to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca or they may be mailed to the address below.
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 must be received by August 12, 2021. The minister’s decision on the EPR is due by August 22, 2021.
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
Southern Bay Blue Spruce RV Park and Campground (Reg. 2135)
Proponent: CamKap Software Development Group Inc.
The project is 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 proposal is located within a 1.6 kilometre buffer zone of a landfill. As such, the Pollution Prevention Division of my Department requires the proponent to complete an environmental site assessment (ESA). The ESA should consider the potential for existing contamination of the site including soil, groundwater, surface water, and the potential for methane gas migration from the landfill. The ESA shall be performed by a registered site professional. More information on the ESA and a list of registered site professionals is available at https://pattern-loop.live/ecc/env-protection/impactedsites/%3C/a%3E%3C/li%3E
- The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture advises that 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 within 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). The location of those raptor nest sites must be reported to the Wildlife Division.
- Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture further advises that, for slopes less than 30 per cent, a minimum 30-metre undisturbed riparian buffer zone shall be established around all waterbodies, from the high water mark, that are identified on either the 1:50,000 scale National Topographic System maps, or the topographic mapping layer shown in the Provincial Land Use Atlas. No land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities shall take place in this zone. For slopes greater than 30 per cent, an undisturbed riparian buffer zone shall be calculated and maintained using the following formula: 30 metres + 1.5 metres x slope (per cent). No land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities will take place in this zone.
- 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@ciov.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 required.
Northern Peninsula Spruce Budworm Control Test (Reg. 2142)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
The project is 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, licenses, 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: https://pattern-loop.live/ecc/env-assessment/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449; 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca