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.

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

Victoria River Quarry                                                                                (Reg. 2227)
Proponent: Newcrete Investments Ltd.

The proponent is proposing to develop a 5.5 hectare quarry adjacent to Victoria River, located approximately 50 kilometres southwest of the Town of Buchans, and approximately 7 kilometres northeast of Victoria Lake. Sand and gravel would be sourced from the quarry for the purpose of aggregate production in Central Newfoundland. A description of the project can be found on the Department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on December 20, 2022; the deadline for public comments is January 26, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by February 3, 2023.

Torbay Powder Coating Facility                                                             (Reg. 2228)
Proponent: APC Industrial Ltd.

The proponent is proposing to develop and operate powder coating facility in an existing building located near Torbay Road, Torbay. The facility would require the installation and operation of a powder coating booth, sandblast cabinet and a curing oven to produce finished powder coated products for market. A description of the project can be found on the Department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on December 20, 2022; the deadline for public comment is January 26, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by February 3, 2023.

Crown Zone 3 Five-Year Operating Plan Amendment (2022-2026)   (Reg. 2229)
Proponent:  Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture 

The proponent is proposing an amendment to the Crown Zone 3 Five-Year Operating Plan (2022-2026) that would allow commercial harvesting in District 4, near the Mint Brook Resource Road and the Town of Gambo. The amendment would include harvesting 4000 cubic metres of hardwood and 800 cubic metres of Jack Pine by a commercial logging contractor, which would be used to manufacture cabinets, flooring and other value-added products. A description of the project can be found on the Department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on December 21, 2022; the deadline for public comment is January 26, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by February 4, 2023.

Humber Valley Hiking Trail                                                                     (Reg. 2230)
Proponent: International Appalachian Trail Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter Inc. 

The proponent proposes to develop 5.5 kilometres of hiking / walking trails in Lower Humber Valley, near Corner Brook. The two- metre wide trail will provide a trail extension and link to the Man in the Mountain Lookout. A description of the project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on December 22, 2022; the deadline for public comments is January 26, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by February 5, 2023.

PLAN APPROVED

Fermeuse Offshore Marine Base                                                          (Reg. 1773)
Proponent: Fermeuse Enterprises Limited

The Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) is approved, subject to the following conditions:

• The proponent must uphold all commitments made in the environmental assessment submissions to mitigate the effects of the Project on the environment.
• The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agricuiture requires the proponent to maintain a 30-metre undisturbed buffer area around active passerine/land-bird nests (species not of management concern) during their nesting season (April 15 to July 31).
• The proponent must submit an EPP for the operations phase of the Project for approval by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change prior to commencement of Project operations.
• The proponent must submit an EPP for the decommissioning phase for approval by the Minister of Environment and Climate Change prior to commencement of Project decommissioning activities.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Crown District 23 Five-Year Forestry Operating Plan (2023-2027) (Reg. 2209)
Proponents: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture and Nunatsiavut Government

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.
• A Greenhouse Gas Management Plan must be prepared and submitted to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change for approval. A draft of this plan must be submitted within one year of the date of the minister’s decision letter with an update on the progress of this plan to be submitted in 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 modeling with regard to climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.
• The Wildlife Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires you to follow the 2021 Environmental Protection Guidelines.
• The Land Management Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and

Agriculture advises that existing agriculture operations must not be impacted by

the Project, and you must consult with the Land Management Division as follows:

• to determine if there are any land use conflicts with agricultural development areas within the forest management district; and
• to determine if there are any land use conflicts with cottage planning areas and cottage development areas.
• 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 requested.

Victoria Abattoir                                                                                 (Reg. 2222)
Proponent: Omiachi Farm

The Project is released subject to the following conditions:

• The proponent must uphold all commitments made in the environmental assessment submission to mitigate the effects of the Project on the environment.
• The Pollution Prevention Division of the Department of Environment and Climate Change requires that a detailed Waste Management Plan (WMP) that addresses all waste streams produced by the Project, including liquid and solid waste, be submitted for approval prior to the commencement of operations. The WMP must incorporate composting management and should be developed in conjunction with the Department of Fisheries Forestry and Agriculture and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and describe how to safely and effectively compost waste offal, including the separate composting of specified risk material. The plan should also include details pertaining to vector and odour control and contingencies for any spills of waste or hazardous materials.
• The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires that any vegetation clearing is to occur outside 800 metres of bald eagle or osprey nests 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 raptor nest sites must be reported to the Wildlife Division.
• The proponent must 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 must 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 the release letter 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 is available at:

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

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

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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.