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 RELEASED:

Crown District 22 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan (2022-2026) (Reg. 2162)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.

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 Climate Change Branch of the Department of Environment and Climate Change requires the proponent to submit a Greenhouse Gas Management Plan for approval by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change within one year of the date of this letter, with an update on the progress of this plan to be submitted within six months. The plan is expected to include:

• • any carbon modeling that has been or will be used to inform forest management planning;
  • projections on the level of greenhouse gas emissions that are anticipated to be captured and/or released over the five year period; and,
  • a description of how forest management will be informed by carbon modelling with regard to climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.

• The Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment and Climate Change requires that a 30- metre buffer must be maintained around the following real-time hydrometric, water quality and climate monitoring stations:
  • Trans-Labrador Highway between Churchill Falls and Labrador City (NLENCL0008),
  • Metchin River near Trans-Labrador Highway (NLENCL0009),
  • Wabush Lake at lake outlet (03OA005),
  • Luce Brook Below Tinto Pond (03OA012),
  • Wabush Lake at Dolomite Road (03OA014),
  • Flora Creek below Trans-Labrador Highway (03OA015),
  • Goodream Creek 2 km Northwest of Timmons 6 (03OB006),
  • Elross Creek below Pinette Lake inflow (03OB007),
  • Hook Bay (03OBX01),
  • Lobstick (03OBX02),
  • Oorma Lake (03OBX03),
  • Churchill River above Churchill Falls Tailrace (03OD008),
  • Joan Brook below outlet of Joan Lake (03OB009),
  • Dumbell Stream above Dumbell Lake (03OA016),
  • Pumphouse Stream above Drum Lake (03OA017),
  • Churchill River below Churchill Falls Tailrace (03OD010) and
  • Goodream Creek above Triangle Lake (03OB010).

• The Land Management Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:
  • Portions of the proposed Forestry Operating Plan areas fall within cottage planning, cottage development and Crown land reserves. The proponent is required to consult with the Land Use Atlas and/or Land Management Division to determine if there are any land use conflicts.
  • The proponent is required to implement a 100- metre buffer around established cottage development areas and consult with the Land Management Division to determine if there are any land use conflicts with issued Crown titles and for Crown land within and adjacent to proposed harvest areas.
  • There are two existing titles within this project’s proposed scope. Domestic harvesters should be aware that there are titles issued in the area and they should reference the Land Use Atlas prior to harvesting.

• The Tourism Product Development Division of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation requires the following:
  • The proponent is to coordinate forest management efforts with outfitters during the big game season from September 15-December 31 and spring bear harvest, which occurs May 1-July 15.
  • The proponent is required to submit a Tourism Stakeholder Consultation Plan (Consultation Plan) that will report on consultations with tourism stakeholders. The Consultation Plan is to identify the potential impacts of forestry operations on each tourism stakeholder and describe how harvesting, road construction and silviculture activities will be modified to minimize impacts to tourism stakeholder values, which include but are not limited to: wildlife populations and hunting success rates, pristine and remote wilderness settings, and, increased access by local residents. The Consultation Plan must be reviewed and approved by Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation prior to conducting forestry operations. If the consultation plan is derived from the EngageNL process, Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation would like to review it with Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture to ensure that all stakeholders are represented; and,
  • The proponent shall implement measures that preserve the visitor experience and viewscapes along the Trans Labrador Highway. Harvest blocks visible from this route should be developed using landscape design techniques to minimize the negative visual effects of clear cuts. The proponent is advised to consult directly with the Manager of Tourism Product Development regarding efforts to minimize the visibility of clear cuts from the Trans Labrador Highway.
• 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.
• 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.

UNDERTAKING WITHDRAWN:

St. Lawrence Fluorspar Marine Shipping Terminal Project              (Reg. 2028)
Proponent: Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc.

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/

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If you submit comments on a project that is under environmental assessment, please advise the Department if you DO NOT wish to share your comments with the project proponent.

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