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 PREVIEW REPORT REQUIRED AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED:

Rennies River Flood Mitigation                                                                            (Reg. 2115)
Portugal Cove Road to King’s Bridge Road   
Proponent: City of St. John’s

The minister has advised the proponent that an environmental preview report (EPR) is required for this project. Additional information is needed to inform the minister of the potential environmental impacts, including, but not limited to:

• The expanded flood plain (including mapping) upstream and as a result of the proposed berms, the effect of expanded flooding on private and public property, and measures that will be undertaken to mitigate the effects of the expanded flood plain;
• The potential effects of water-logging inside the earthen berm structures and a drainage plan to avoid post-construction water-logging;
• A plan to address localized surface water drainage to the river that will be inhibited by the berm structures;
• The potential effect of the berms and erosion control measures on groundwater levels and measures that will be undertaken to mitigate the effects; and,
• The change in the river morphology and flow velocity at the berm section, upstream and downstream of the berm and riverbank stabilization.

An Environmental Assessment Committee has been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to draft guidelines for the proponent 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 Chair
  • Water Resources Management Division
• Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture
  • Wildlife Division

PLAN APPROVED

Round Pond (South) Quarry                                                         (Reg. 2101)
Proponent: JCL Investments Inc.

The minister has approved the Viewscape Management Plan for the Round Pond (South) Quarry. The approval of this plan is a condition of release for this project.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

Belleoram Crushed Granite Rock Export Quarry                          (Reg. 2112)
Proponent: Continental Stone 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.
• 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 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, 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;
• Groundwater monitoring wells must be installed to monitor any potential effects to the groundwater from the quarry activities;
• Continental Stone Limited must enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities for the installation of a real-time water quality/quantity network for groundwater/surface water as determined upon further consultation;
• The Department of Industry, Energy and Technology requires the proponent to submit a Visibility Management Plan that considers how the proposed quarry operation can be planned so that it is least visible to the community of Belleoram and from persons travelling the road / trail that connects Belleoram to the barasway. The Visibility Management Plan must clearly illustrate the extent to which the quarry operation will be screened from the public and must make use of topographic profiles with sightlines depicted for representative locations of concern;
• The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:
  • a Communication Plan for blasting and vessel scheduling must be submitted to and approved by the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture prior to the start of construction;
  • a Contingency Plan for warm water, super chill and/or biosecurity events must be submitted for approval by the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture prior to the start of construction;
  • a minimum 30-metre undisturbed buffer must be 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;
• A Women’s Employment Plan (WEP) must be submitted and approved by the Deputy Minister, Office for the Status of Women, prior to the start of construction. The WEP 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; and,

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.

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