The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Matthews Pond (Lethbridge) Strawberry Farm                                 (Reg. 2225)
Proponent: Bayview Gardens

The proponent is proposing to develop approximately eight hectares of agriculture land for strawberry production near Matthews Pond, located approximately eight kilometres south of Lethbridge on the Bonavista Peninsula. The increase of the farm’s productive land base will allow the farm to expand its strawberry operation. A description of the project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/eccm/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on December 1, 2022; the deadline for public comments is January 6, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by January 15, 2023.

PLAN APPROVED:

Argentia Seafood Processing Plants                                                  (Reg. 2172)
Proponent: Dandy Dan’s Fish Market Ltd.

On December 2, 2022, the minister approved the waste management plan for the Argentia Seafood Processing Plants project. Approval of the plan is a condition of release from environmental assessment. The plan is available on the Department’s project web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/2172-2/.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Rennies River Flood Mitigation –
Portugal Cove Road to Kings Bridge Road                                        (Reg. 2115)
Proponent: City of St. John’s

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, 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.

Pinware River Access Road and Cabin                                               (Reg. 2212)
Proponent: Alexander O’Brien

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 Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:
  • No vegetation clearing is to occur within 800 meters of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) and 200 meters 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 site must be reported to the Wildlife Division.
  • For access road construction, the proponent must maintain a minimum 30-metre undisturbed, riparian buffer from the high water mark of the Pinware River to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat. Cottage development must be situated within grant 14246 to maintain as close as possible to a 30-metre undisturbed, riparian buffer from the high water mark of the Pinware River.

• 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) demonstrating 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 the release letter and to provide additional updates if required.

Blaketown to Clarkes Pond 55L Transmission Line Rebuild        (Reg. 2221)
Proponent: Newfoundland Power 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 Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following condition:
• 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 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 required.

UNDERTAKING WITHDRAWN:

 Cape Ray Gold Project                                                                                         (Reg. 2224)
Proponent: Matador Mining Ltd.

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 is available at:

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_May-2022.pdf

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @ECC_GovNL

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.