Registration Number: 1407

Labrador – Island Transmission Link

Proponent: Nalcor Energy

Summary of Environmental Assessment Process:

Project Description:

The Project involves the construction and operation of an approximately 1,100 km long transmission line and associated infrastructure within and between Labrador and the Island portion of the Province. One option would see the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) overhead transmission line commence at a converter station at Gull Island (one option) in central Labrador, proceed southeast across Labrador, cross the Strait of Belle Isle via submarine cables, and proceed across Newfoundland to end at a converter station at Soldiers Pond on the Island’s Avalon Peninsula. Another potential option would see the overhead transmission line commence at a converter station at or near the Muskrat Falls site in central Labrador. If that was the case, the Labrador transmission corridor would potentially extend from Muskrat Falls to the Trans Labrador Highway (Phase 3, TLH3) and then follow along TLH3 to its southernmost point, before picking up the previously identified corridor. On April 14, 2011 Nalcor Energy identified an alternative cable crossing option, in the Strait of Belle Isle. The additional option identifies Shoal Cove as a possible landing site on the Island portion of the Province. Shoal Cove is located several kilometres northeast of Mistaken Cove, which was one of the original proposed cable landing sites.The use of “shore electrodes” at locations along the Labrador shore of the Strait of Belle Isle area and Conception Bay South is proposed. The wood-pole transmission line connecting the Labrador converter station to the Strait of Belle Isle electrode will follow along the same route / right-of-way as the HVDC transmission line itself from the lower Churchill River to the submarine cable landing site at the Strait. From there it will follow the existing Labrador Straits highway and/or power lines northeast to the electrode site, which will be located at some point between the cable landing site and the Pinware area. Similarly, the wood-pole line from the Soldiers Pond converter station to the Conception Bay South shore electrode will generally follow along existing transmission lines and/or roadways in that region. The steel lattice transmission towers for the HVDC line will be approximately 43m in height and carry three wires (two conductors and a ground).

  • February 2, 2009 – The undertaking was registered.
  • March 9, 2009 – Public comments are due.
  • March 19, 2009 – The Minister’s decision is due.
  • March 23, 2009 – The Minister requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.
  • April 2, 2009 – Environmental assessment committee appointed.
  • September 22, 2009 – An amendment to the registration document is received.
  • November 29, 2010 – A change in Project description is received.
  • February 7, 2011 – Draft EIS Guidelines.
  • April 14, 2011 – Alternative Strait of Belle Isle Cable Crossing Option is received.
  • May 3, 2011 – Final EIS Guidelines/Scoping Document approved.
  • May 19, 2011 – Component Studies are received.
  • July 5, 2011 – Component Studies are received.
  • August 16, 2011 – Component Study received.
  • September 6, 2011 – Component Study received.
  • November 16, 2011 – Component Studies are received.
  • December 8, 2011 – Component Studies require further work.
  • December 8, 2011 – Component Study acceptable.
  • January 17, 2012 – Component Studies require further work.
  • February 8, 2012 – Component Study acceptable.
  • April 5, 2012 – Component Study Acceptable.
  • April 5, 2012 – Component Study requires further work.
  • April 10, 2012 – Component Studies Additional Information Submitted.
  • April 12, 2012 – Environmental Impact Statement Submitted.
  • June 22, 2012 – Revised Component Study Acceptable
  • July 6, 2012 – Component Study Acceptable.
  • August 8, 2012 – Component Study Additional Information Submitted.
  • November 2, 2012 – Component Study Acceptable.
  • December 10, 2012 – Additional Information Submitted.
  • February 19, 2013 Revised Component Studies Acceptable.
  • February 26, 2013 – Component Study Acceptable.
  • March 22, 2013 – Component Study Acceptable.
  • May 31, 2013 – EIS and EIS Additional Information Accepted.
  • June 21, 2013 – The Minister announced that the project is released.

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