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.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED:
Salmonier Line Cottage Development (Reg. 1958)
Proponent: Gerbar Holdings Inc.
On August 6, 2020 the Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities advised the proponent that an environmental preview report (EPR) is required for the project. An Environmental Assessment Committee has been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to prepare draft guidelines 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
- Local Governance and Planning Division
- Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
- Crown Lands
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
CBPP Zone 5, District 10 Five-Year Operating Plan (Reg. 2092)
Proponent: Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited
The project was 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 that:
- a minimum 30-metre undisturbed buffer is maintained along all waterbodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topographical map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat;
- 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, the location of any raptor nest site must be reported to the Wildlife Division;
- the Environmental Protection Guidelines apply to all cut blocks for Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited operations;
- harvesting operations in the Frozen Ocean cut block are to be deferred until further consultation with the Wildlife Division;
- all other commercial forest operations in Forestry Management District 10 (including road building) that intersect with spring caribou core and secondary areas, must occur post July 30 when caribou post-calving has ended; and
- until further discussion, all spring and winter caribou core areas must have a minimum of 30 per cent suitable, mature forest cover remaining post-harvest.
- The Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities requires that a minimum 200-metre buffer is maintained between the operating boundaries of the Forest Management District 10 Five Year Plan and private groundwater wells, particularly in areas where the boundaries appear to encompass/encroach on privately owned properties.
- The Climate Change Branch of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities requires the proponent to prepare and submit a Greenhouse Gas Management Plan for approval. A draft of this plan must be submitted within one year and an update on the progress of this plan is to be submitted in six months. The plan is 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 modelling with regard to climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation.
- The Office of the Status of Women advises the proponent to develop a Women’s Employment Plan (WEP) for the project, to be approved by the Office for the Status of Women, and the plan should identify specific commitments to support the recruitment, training, employment and retention of women.
- The proponent is required to advise the Environmental Assessment Division when each of the conditions of release has 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, licences, certificates, approvals and other authorizations required for the project, within one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates, if requested.
Indian Bay Quarry
Proponent: Oldford’s Sand and Gravel Ltd. (Reg. 2096)
The project was 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 minimum 30-metre undisturbed buffer is required along all waterbodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topographical map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat.
- 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, the location of any raptor nest site must be reported to the Wildlife Division of the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture.
- A brief Water Resources Management Plan must be prepared and submitted to the Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities for review and approval, prior to commencing any work related to this project. The Water Resources Management Plan should address the following concerns:
- 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 operations, describe how the water body will be impacted. A permit/licence from the Water Resources Management Division may be required; and,
- If there is any potential for onsite drainage water or dewatering water to discharge into a natural water body, describe the measures that are to be deployed, such as the establishment of vegetative cover, filter strip or silt curtain to ensure the effluent or runoff meets the requirements 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 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.
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/
Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @MAE_GovNL
Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities
709-729-5449; 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca