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

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Green Valley Regional Abattoir –Northern Arm                                (Reg. 2102)
Proponent: Sunshine Investment Inc.

The proponent is proposing a regional, year–round, abattoir to service the central region of the province. The undertaking is located in the community of Northern Arm and the site is bound to the south by Northern Brook Resource Road and to the west by Rowsell’s Lake Road.

The undertaking was registered on September 22, 2020; the deadline for public comments is October 30, 2020; and the minister’s decision is due by November 6, 2020.

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT REQUIRED AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED:

Southwest Brook – Lewisporte Quarry                                             (Reg. 2086)
Proponent: Terra Services Inc.

The minister has advised the proponent that an environmental preview report (EPR) is required for the project. Additional information is needed to inform the minister of the potential environmental effects of the project, including, but not limited to: a description of the proposed access route to the quarry and construction schedule; a site diagram and scaled mapping/imagery that  identifies the location; the length of new road to be constructed; any existing roads to be used; stream crossings and bridge construction; and the status of the proposed access route that was described in the registration document.

An Environmental Assessment Committee has been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to draft guidelines for the proponent for conducting the EPR. The Environmental Assessment Committee includes representation from the following provincial government agencies:

• Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities
• Environmental Assessment Division – Committee Chairperson
• Water Resources Management Division
• Department of Industry, Energy and Technology
  • Mineral Lands Division
• Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
  • Crown Lands Division

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Noel Paul Steady Access Road and Bridge                                       (Reg. 2094)
Proponent: 2G Outfitters 

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 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 Department;
  • 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;
  • all timber on the proposed site must be removed using a harvester and is not to be bulldozed as stated in the environmental assessment registration document;
  • a digital file of the access trail, once established, must be submitted to the Department;
  • an Environmental Protection Plan must be submitted to the Department for review and approval prior to project construction; and
  • a Crown Lands application must be submitted for the lodge and a Notice of Intent must be published in the Newfoundland and Labrador Gazette.
• 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 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.

Corner Brook Quarry                                                                              (Reg. 2095)
Proponent: Edward Collins Contracting Limited

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 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); and,
  • a minimum 30-metre undisturbed buffer along all waterbodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topo map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat.
• A Water Resources Management Plan must be prepared and submitted to the Water Resources Management Division for review and approval, prior to commencing any work related to this project. The Water Resources Management Plan should address/answer the following concerns/questions:
  • if there are any brooks, rivers, ponds, streams or wetlands, present in or within 30 metres of the boundaries of the project site, then please provide the type of water body and its distance from the site;
  • if any of the above-mentioned water bodies are impacted by site operation, describe how the water body will be impacted;
  • a permit/licence from the Water Resources Management Division, may be required;
  • If there is any potential of onsite drainage water, or dewatering water to discharge into a natural water body,  describe what precautionary measures, such as vegetative cover, filter strip, or silt curtain, are to be deployed to ensure the effluent or runoff meets the requirement of the Environmental Control Water and Sewage Regulations, 2003.
• The proponent is required to advise 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 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 requested.

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/eccm/env-assessment/

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