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.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REQUIRED AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED:

Rocky Pond Quarry                                                                                   (Reg. 2187)
Proponent: Parson’s Paving Ltd.

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:

• Baseline studies to demonstrate the suitability of existing materials to operate an onsite asphalt plant.
• The EIS must provide the following information:
  • A Visibility Management Plan;
  • Potential effects of the undertaking on water quality and measures to mitigate the effects;
  • Potential effects of the undertaking on recreational activities in the area and measures to mitigate the effects;
  • Surrounding land use and proximity to human receptors; and,
  • Cumulative effects of the undertaking in consideration of surrounding land use, past and present.

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 government agencies:

• Department of Environment and Climate Change

• • Environmental Assessment Division – Chair
  • Water Resources Management Division

• Department of Industry Energy and Technology

• • Mineral Lands Division

• Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

• • Tourism Product Development Division

The public will be invited to provide comment on the draft guidelines. For further information on this project, please contact Eric Watton at (709) 729-0834 or email ericwatton@gov.nl.ca.

UNDERTAKINGS  RELEASED:

Voisey’s Bay Wind Energy Project                                                       (Reg. 2180) Proponent: Innu-Inuit Envest Limited Partnership

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 must develop a Species at Risk Impacts Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (IMMP) for approval of the Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, prior to issuance of a permit under Section 19 of the Endangered Species Act. The IMMP is to include a mitigation, monitoring, and adaptive management framework for bats, short-eared owls and the peregrine falcons.
• The proponent must consult with the Innu Nation and the Nunatsiavut Government and demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, how local Innu and Inuit traditional knowledge is incorporated in IMMP, including the timing of avian and bat surveys.
• 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.

Exploits River Geodesic Domes                                                            (Reg. 2189)
Proponent: Red Indian Adventures Ltd.

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:
  • A minimum 50-metre undisturbed natural buffer to be maintained along the Exploits River. The buffer is measured from the edge of non-hydrophytic vegetation.
  • For all other waterbodies, for slopes less than 30 percent, a minimum 30 metre naturally vegetated riparian buffer zone shall be established around all waterbodies, from the high water mark, that are identified on either the 1:50,000 scale National Topographic System maps, or the topographic mapping layer shown in the Provincial Land Use Atlas. No land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities will take place in this zone. For slopes greater than 30 percent, there shall be a naturally vegetated riparian buffer zone calculated using the following formula: 30 metres + 1.5 metres x slope (%).
  • No land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities will take place in this zone, 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 sites must be reported to the Wildlife Division.
• 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.
• 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 your project, one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates if required.

Cormack Agriculture Land Development                                           (Reg. 2191)
Proponent: Mckay Farms Ltd.

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 Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment and Climate change requires the following:
  • Prior to commencing any work related to this project, a Water Resources

Management Plan must be prepared and submitted to the Water Resources Management Division for approval. The Water Resources Management Plan should address the following 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 affected by the farm construction or operation, describe how the water body will be affected. A permit/license from the Water Resources Management Division may be required.
• The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following;
  • A minimum undisturbed 50-metre buffer shall be maintained from the highwater mark of any waterbodies or wetlands that appear on a 1 ;50,000 scale National Topographic Systems map or the topographic systems map layer shown in the Provincial Land Use Atlas. The buffer is required to mitigate the potential effects of surface runoff, infiltrations, or the application of chemicals or manure on surrounding water systems within or adjacent to the project boundary.
  • Vegetation clearing is not to occur within 800 meters of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) and 200 meters 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.
• 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.
• 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 your project, one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates if required.

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 is available at:
www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/
www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_Dec2021

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @ECC_GovNL

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