The Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Hammerdown Gold Mine                                                                         (Reg. 2091)
Proponent: Maritime Resources Corporation

The proponent proposes to develop a gold mine located approximately five kilometres southwest of the Town of King’s Point and 15 kilometres northwest of the Town of Springdale on the Baie Verte Peninsula. The mine will be both open pit and underground workings developed with total ore production of approximately 2.1 million tonnes and 28.8 million tonnes of waste rock. Ore from the mine will be processed at the Nugget Pond processing plant/mill near the Town of Baie Verte.

The undertaking was registered on July 8, 2020; the deadline for public comments is August 12, 2020; and the minister’s decision is due by August 22, 2020.

PLANS APPROVED:

Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project                     (Reg. 1834)
Proponent: Grieg NL Nurseries Ltd. and Grieg NL Seafarms Ltd.

On July 3, 2020, the minister approved the environmental effects monitoring plan (EEMP) for the Performance of European-strain Triploid Fish and the Waste Management Plan for the Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project. The approval of these plans are conditions of release of the project from further environmental assessment.

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT REQUIRED:

St. Lawrence Fluorspar Marine Shipping Terminal Project          (Reg. 2028)
Proponent: Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc.

The minister has advised the proponent that an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) is required for this project. Additional information is required, including, but not limited to: description and rationale for proposing two shipping terminals for the project: one at Blue Beach Cove and the other at Little Lawn Harbour; effects on seabirds and Lawn Bay Ecological Reserve; municipal zoning requirements; effects on hiking trail(s) and St. Lawrence Stewardship Agreement; description of monitoring program for shipping aggregate; and effects on local fisheries/harvesters. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and guidance regarding the information requirements to the proponent. For further information on this project, please contact Paul Carter at pcarter@gov.nl.ca.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Carmanville Sea Urchin Aquaculture Facility                                (Reg. 2066)
Proponent: Eastern Fish Markets 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.
• Any connection to the public drinking water system from service lines into the non-office area of the facility shall have cross connection control to prevent possible contamination of the drinking water system. For further information, please contact the Water Resources Management Division at (709) 729-2563.
• 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 advise 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 requested by the minister. Project updates should be emailed to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Dildo Pond Vegetable Farm near Campbellton                                 (Reg. 2076)
Proponent: Triple E Farm

The project was released subject to the following conditions:

• The proponent is required to uphold all commitments made in your 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 at 709 -637-2025.
• A minimum 30-metre naturally vegetated buffer be maintained along wetlands, streams and waterbodies to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat.
• The proponent is required to advise Environmental Assessment Division when each of the conditions of release has been met.
• The proponent is required to update Environmental Assessment Division on the status of your project, including a copy of all  permits, licences, certificates, approvals and other authorizations required for your project one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates if required by me. Please email your project updates to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Learn more
Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment
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
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca