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:
Crown District 21 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan (2022-2026) (Reg. 2151)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
The proponent has submitted a proposal for a Five-Year Operating Plan for District 21. District 21 is located on the South Coast of Labrador, bounded to the north by Hawke Bay and Hawke Brook, to the west by the Paradise and St. Paul’s Rivers and the Quebec-Labrador border to the Strait of Belle Isle, and to the east and south by the Labrador Sea, including all islands, to Hawke Bay. The plan describes harvesting operations, silviculture activities and road construction. The plan covers the period between January 01, 2022 and December 31, 2026.
The undertaking was registered on July 14, 2021; the deadline for public comment is August 20, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 28, 2021.
Crown Zone 3 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan (2022-2026) (Reg. 2152)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
The proponent has submitted a proposal for a Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan for Zone 3 in central Newfoundland, which includes Forest Management Districts 4, 5, 6 and 8. Zone 3 extends from Seal Bay in the northwest, along the coast to New-Wes-Valley in the northeast, southerly to Terra Nova National Park in the east, and west along the northern edge of the Bay du Nord Wilderness area to the general area of the Bay d’Espoir Highway near Great Gull Lake. The plan includes activities such as harvesting operations, silviculture, construction of access roads and bridges, forest protection and forestry-related activities. The plan covers the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026.
The undertaking was registered on July 14, 2021; the deadline for public comment is August 20, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 28, 2021.
Riverhead Commercial Wharf and Quarry (Reg. 2153)
Proponent: Pennecon Marine Base Ltd.
The proponent is proposing to develop a 9-hectare laydown area, quarry, and commercial wharf near Graven Bank in the Town of Riverhead, St. Mary’s Bay. Development also includes upgrading an existing trail into a 500-metre access road to the quarry, and constructing a 700-metre access road from the quarry to the wharf to allow the load out of processed aggregate materials onto vessels.
The undertaking was registered on July 14, 2021; the deadline for public comment is August 20, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 28, 2021.
Deer Lake Pedestrian Underpass (Reg. 2154)
Proponent: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
The proponent is proposing to install a 3-metre-in-diameter pedestrian underpass on Route 430, approximately 15 meters from the Humber River. The purpose of the proposed undertaking is to enable pedestrians to cross Route 430 safely. Construction is estimated to take between two to four weeks to complete.
The undertaking was registered on July 14, 2021; the deadline for public comment is August 20, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 28, 2021.
Crown Zone 7 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan (2022-2026) (Reg. 2155)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
The proponent has submitted a proposal for a Five-Year Operating Plan for Zone 7, which includes Forest Management Districts 9 and 16 surrounding White Bay. Zone 7 extends from Deer Lake in the west to Cat Arm in the north and includes all of the Baie Verte Peninsula. The plan describes proposed timber harvesting operations, construction of access roads and silviculture activities. The plan covers the period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026.
The undertaking was registered on July 14, 2021; the deadline for public comment is August 20, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 28, 2021.
Tors Cove Seal Processing Plant (Reg. 2156)
Proponent: Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd.
The proponent is proposing to renovate the former fish plant to process seal oil in Tors Cove. The facility will be used to make omega-3 oil and produce nutraceuticals for the food industry. Renovations will be made to the former facility to operate the seal processing plant.
The undertaking was registered on July 14, 2021; the deadline for public comment is August 20, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 28, 2021.
ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIW REPORT REQUIRED AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED:
Star Lake to Valentine Gold Transmission Line TL271 Project (Reg. 2136)
Proponent: Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
The minister has advised the proponent that an environmental preview report (EPR) is required for this project. Additional information is needed to inform the minister of the potential environmental impacts, including, but not limited to caribou, outfitters and related wildlife concerns, traditional and cultural land uses, and cumulative effects.
An Environmental Assessment Committee has been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to draft guidelines for the proponent conducting the EPR. The Environmental Assessment Committee includes representation from the following provincial government agencies:
- Department of Environment and Climate Change
- Environmental Assessment Division – Committee Chair
- Pollution Prevention Division
- Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
- Policy and Planning Division
- Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
- Tourism Division
- Provincial Archaeology Office
- Department of Industry, Energy and Technology
- Mines Branch
- Executive Council
- Office of Women and Gender Equality
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Environmental Protection Operations
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
For further information on this project, please contact Eric Watton at (709) 729-0834 or email ericwatton@gov.nl.ca.
ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIW REPORT REQUIRED:
Indian Head Hatchery Expansion Project (Reg. 1975)
Proponent: Northern Harvest Smolt Ltd.
The minister has advised the proponent that an environmental preview report (EPR) is required for this project. Additional information is needed to inform the minister of the potential environmental effects of transporting and adding additional smolts to the proponent’s sea farms. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister, and guidance regarding the information requirements to the proponent. For further information on this project, please contact John Reynolds at (709) 729-0090 or email johnreynolds@gov.nl.ca.
UNDERTAKING RELEASED:
Peaches Cove – Green Bay Walking & Multipurpose Trails (Reg. 2141)
Proponent: Peaches Cove – Green Bay Development 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 Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:
- A minimum 30-metre undisturbed buffer must be maintained along all water bodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topographical map except where crossing is permitted 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). The location of any raptor nest sites must be reported to the Wildlife Division.
- An Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) must be submitted to and approved by the Minister of Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture prior to the start of construction.
- The proponent is required to advise the Environmental Assessment Division when each of 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.
- 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 release and to provide additional updates, if requested.
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