Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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.

CONDITONS OF RELEASE MET:

Cavendish Beef Farm (Reg. 2002)
Proponent: Viking Fur Inc.

On March 17, 2023, the minister advised the proponent that the Odour Control Management Plan, the Environmental Protection Plan and the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan for the Cavendish Beef Farm project were reviewed and were found to be acceptable. The plans were required by conditions of release from environmental assessment and are available on the department’s project web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2002/.

Flat Bay Quarry (Reg. 2223)
Proponent: Turf Point Resources Ltd.

On March 17, 2023, the minister advised the proponent that the Water Resources Management Plan for the Flat Bay Quarry project was reviewed and was found to be acceptable. The plan was required by a condition of release from environmental assessment and is available on the department’s project web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2223/.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Shoal Cove to Chimney Cove Multi-Use Trail (Reg. 2234)
Proponent: Natalia Crocker

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 Water Resources Management Division (WRMD) of this department requires the following:
- A section of the proposed trail crosses two small wetlands that are visible on 1:50,000 scale National Topographic System maps. The WRMD requires an alternative route for the section of the trail that crosses the wetlands and requires the proponent to follow the attached alternative route to avoid the effects of the trail on the wetlands. The Crown Lands Administration Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture has been advised of this change.

The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:
- For slopes less than 30 per cent, the proponent must establish a minimum 30-metre undisturbed riparian buffer zone around all waterbodies and wetlands, 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. Land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities must not take place in the buffer zone.
- For slopes greater than 30 per cent, the proponent must calculate and maintain an undisturbed riparian buffer zone calculated using the following formula: 30 metres + 1.5 metres x slopes (percent). Land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities must not take place in this zone.
- Vegetation clearing is not 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 any raptor nest site 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, one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates if required.

Stanhope Equipment Storage Yard (Reg. 2235)
Proponent: Aurora Holdings Inc.

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 Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:

A minimum 30-metre undisturbed riparian buffer must be mainlined from the high water mark of all wetlands and waterbodies within and adjacent to the Project 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, to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species and their habitats.
Vegetation clearing is not to occur within 800 metres of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) or 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 any raptor nest sites must be reported to the Wildlife Division.
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, one year from the date of this release letter and provide additional updates if required.

UNDERTAKING WITHDRAWN:

Bonavista Microbrewery (Reg. 2233)
Proponent: Bonavista Brewing Company 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

Environmental assessment information is available at:

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

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_Jan-2023.pdf

Public comments may be forwarded to: EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca

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.

2023 03 23 4:00 pm