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:

Cormack Forage Production                                                                  (Reg. 2159)
Proponent: Larch Grove Farms Ltd.

The proponent is proposing to develop 150 acres within a 237-acre Crown land agricultural lease in the Town of Cormack. The development is required for the production of forage and grain to supply the expansion to the proponent’s dairy herd. Construction would include the removal of all vegetation, removal of stumps and stones, leveling, addition of soil amendments and planting of grasses, legumes and grains. No buildings or other infrastructure would be constructed.

The undertaking was registered on July 22, 2021; the deadline for public comments is August 27, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by September 5, 2021.

Scully Mine Tailings Impoundment Area Expansion Project           (Reg. 2158)
Proponent: Tacora Resources Inc.

The proponent proposes to expand their current tailings impoundment area near Wabush by up to 1.411 hectares. The purpose of this expansion is to enable the extension of mine operations by 22 years to fully utilize ore reserves.

The undertaking was registered on July 21, 2021; the deadline for public comments is August 27, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by September 4, 2021.

Miles Cove Marina                                                                                     (Reg. 2157)
Proponent: Town of Miles Cove

The proponent is proposing to construct a small boat marina for recreational boat users located inside the harbor and adjacent to the main road, on the west side of the Town of Miles Cove. Construction activities would include a 100-metre rock filled access road and 30-metre wide pier that includes a pre-cast concrete boat launch, pre-built pressure treated wooden floating docks and pressure treated wooden access approach ramps. Activities are proposed to begin in early Fall 2021.

The undertaking was registered on July 21, 2021; the deadline for public comments is August 27, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by September 4, 2021.

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT GUIDELINES ISSUED:

Northern Peninsula ATV Trail System                                                 (Reg. 2122)
Proponent: Northern Peninsula ATV Riders Association Inc.

The minister has approved the guidelines for the preparation of an environmental preview report (EPR) for the Northern Peninsula ATV Trail System. 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 www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2122/ or by contacting the Chair of the Environmental Assessment Committee, John Reynolds, by email at johnreynolds@gov.nl.ca.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

IOC Smallwood North Extension Project                                            (Reg. 2140)
Proponent: Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC)

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.
• 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 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, then please provide the type of water body 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 Pollution Prevention Division requires that the plan provide details of the potential impacts on groundwater and surface water as a result of the proposed activity.
• The Water Resources Management Division advises that the hydraulic connection between Lorraine Lake, Dorothy Lake and the proposed pit requires further investigation. 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 prior to commencing any work related to the project, with follow up reports to be submitted annually until the groundwater assessment is complete.
• 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.
• 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. Project updates should be emailed to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Hughes Brook Bridge Replacement                                                     (Reg. 2139)
Proponent: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

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.
• 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 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, please provide the type of water body 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 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.
• With respect to the temporary bypass and for slopes less than 30 percent, 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. With respect to the temporary bypass and for slopes greater than 30 percent, there shall be an undisturbed riparian buffer zone calculated using the following formula: 30 metres + 1.5 metres x slope (%). No land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities shall take place in this zone.
• The Registration document outlines that the contractor is to prepare an Environmental Protection Plan and Contractor Environmental Mitigation Plan for submission to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure prior to construction. These plans are also required to be submitted to the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture for review and approval prior to construction of the diversion and new bridge, which is to include mapping of the proposed diversion route to ensure that minimal habitat destruction occurs. For further information, please contact the Wildlife Division at (709) 637-2025.
• 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. Project updates should be emailed to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Wooddale Area Vegetable and Forage Production                          (Reg. 2138)
Proponent: Kent Fudge

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.

North River Culvert Replacement                                                         (Reg. 2137)
Proponent: Town of North River

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 Town must erect signage and structures to prohibit vehicles from leaving the existing road and accessing the riparian zone of North River.
• “No parking” signs must be erected and parking restrictions enforced within 30 metres of the high water mark of the river along the existing road, including the turnaround area at the end of the road.
• The proponent is required to advise the Environmental Assessment Division when each of the conditions of release has 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, within 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