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

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Munroe’s Pond Bypass Snowmobile Trail                         (Reg. 2175)
Proponent: Notre Dame Snowmobile Association

The Notre Dame Snowmobile Association is proposing to construct and operate a six- kilometre snowmobile trail to connect existing access to the Newfoundland T’Railway Provinical Park (T’Railway), approximately one kilometre west of Indian Arm Pond. The proposed trail is bounded to the North by an access road referred to locally as “Salt Shed Road” and bounded to the South by the T’Railway. Construction activities will include vegetation clearing via mechanical mulching and manual cutting. Operational activities will include the grooming of the trail during winter months.

The undertaking was registered on November 3, 2021; the deadline for public comment is December 9, 2021; and, the minister’s decision is due by December 18, 2021.

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT GUIDELINES ISSUED:

Tors Cove Seal Processing Plant                                      (Reg. 2156)
Proponent: Ár n-oileán Resources Ltd.

The minister has approved the guidelines for the preparation of the environmental preview report (EPR) for this project. The EPR guidelines identify the information that the proponent is required to include in the EPR. The EPR guidelines document is available on the Department of Environment and Climate Change website at https://www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2156/. The proponent is required to hold a public information session prior to submitting the EPR to the Department for review.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REQUIRED AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED:

Joyce Lake Direct Shipping Iron Ore Project                    (Reg. 2143)
Proponent: Joyce Direct Iron Inc.

The minister has advised the proponent that an environmental impact statement (EIS) is required for this project. Additional information is needed to inform the minister of the following, including, but not limited to: best available control technology for effective greenhouse gas emissions control; updated groundwater modeling; impacts to human health and traditional land use and resource activities; dewatering and refilling of Joyce Lake; monitoring and mitigations for wildlife; protections against accidents and malfunctions; effects of the environment on the project and cumulative effects.

An Environmental Assessment Committee (EAC) has been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to draft guidelines for the proponent in preparing the EIS. The EAC includes representatives from the following provincial and federal government agencies:

• Department of Environment and Climate Change
  • Environmental Assessment Division – Chair
  • Climate Change Branch
  • Water Resources Management Division
  • Pollution Prevention Division
• Executive Council
  • Office of Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation
  • Office of Women and Gender Equality
• Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
  • Policy and Planning Division
  • Forestry and Wildlife Branch
• Department of Health and Community Services
  • Public Health Division
• Department of Industry Energy and Technology
  • Mineral Development Division
  • Mineral Lands Division
• Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation
  • Provincial Archaeology Office
• Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Environmental Protection Operations
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
  • Fish and Fish Habitat Protection Program
• Health Canada
  • Environmental Health Program
• Transport Canada
  • Environmental Programs and Indigenous Relations

The public will be invited to provide comment on the draft guidelines. For further information on this project, please contact John Reynolds at (709) 729-0090 or email johnreynolds@gov.nl.ca.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

North Brook (Deer Lake East) Bridge Installation             (Reg. 2169)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture

• 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 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. Please email project updates to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Learn more
Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Climate Change
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: https://www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

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If you submit comments on a project that is under environmental assessment, please advise the Department if you DO NOT wish to share your comments with the project proponent.

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