The Honourable Derek Bennett, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities, has announced the following event relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:
Junction Brook Agriculture Area of Interest #39
Access Road and Land Clearing                                                           (Reg. 2089)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
Agriculture and Lands Branch 

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.
• 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 location of any raptor nest site must be reported to the Wildlife Division.
• A minimum 30-metre undisturbed buffer is required along all waterbodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topo map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat.
• The northern portion of AOI #39 intersects with caribou spring core habitat. Any vegetation clearing must occur after the calving/ post-calving period, ending July 30.
• 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 to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.
• The proponent is required to update the Environmental Assessment Division on the status of the project, including a copy of all  permits, licenses, 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. Project updates should be emailed to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

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Learn more
Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities
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/mae/env-assessment/

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