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

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:
Appleton Mineral Exploration Project Expansion                            (Reg. 2273)
Proponent: New Found Gold Corp.

The Proponent is proposing to continue mineral exploration activities including prospecting, geological mapping, geophysical surveys on the ground and from the air, geochemical surveys and core drilling in the Queensway North Property near Appleton. To complete the core drilling activities, drill pads and access trails would need to be constructed by clearing the trees and brush. Reclamation of drill sites and trails is planned to be conducted concurrently with the exploration work. A description of the project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on October 25, 2023; the deadline for public comment is November 29, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by December 9, 2023.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REQUIRED:
Indian Head Hatchery Expansion                                                          (Reg. 1975)
Proponent: Northern Harvest Sea Farms 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: environmental baseline information associated with the saltwater farm sites and wild Atlantic Salmon populations in the project area; potential effects of the project on the marine environment, including ecological interactions with, and effects on, wild Atlantic salmon; cumulative effects on the marine environment in the project area; measures that will be undertaken to mitigate adverse environmental effects; monitoring for aquaculture escapees in Bay Management Areas; and methods for identification/traceability of farmed salmon.

The Environmental Assessment Committee will provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and prepare draft guidelines for conducting the EIS. The public will be invited to provide comment on the draft guidelines.

 UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
Lac Virot Exploration Access Road                                                     (Reg. 2238)
Proponent: Red Paramount Iron LTD.

The project is released from environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:

• The Proponent must 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 30-metre undisturbed riparian buffer must be maintained from the high water mark of all wetlands and waterbodies within and adjacent to the project 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, to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitats.
  • Vegetation clearing is not to occur within 800 metres of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) and within 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.
• The Department of Industry, Energy and Technology requires that the access road route be amended to avoid an active quarry site.
• The Proponent must advise the Environmental Assessment Division when the conditions of release have been met, by e-mailing a written description, documents, and images (where applicable) to demonstrate that the conditions have been fulfilled.
• The Proponent must 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 required.

Canning’s Lake Bee Farm and Forage Area                                       (Reg. 2266)
Proponent: Tuck’s Bee Better Farm

The project is released from environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:

• The Proponent must uphold all commitments made in the environmental assessment submission to mitigate the effects of the project on the environment.
• The Proponent must 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 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

Environmental assessment information is available at:

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_September-2023.pdf

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @ECC_GovNL

Project comments may be forwarded to: EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca

Anyone submitting comments on a project under environmental assessment is asked to please advise the Department if they DO NOT wish to have their comments shared with the project proponent.