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February 28, 1997
(Environment and Labour)
Environmental assessment bulletin
Environment and Labour Minister Kevin Aylward has
announced the following events relative to the Environmental
Assessment Act. In the case of documents received or approved,
copies may be obtained by contacting the regional office of the
Department of Environment and Labour or by calling toll-free
1-800-563-6181. Comments on submitted documents are invited from
the public, addressed in writing to the minister, and are welcome
prior to the deadline date following each item.
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 36 megawatt
(MW) hydroelectric development and associated 230 kilovolt (kV)
transmission line of approximately 40 km. The proposed Island
Pond Development will utilize the flow from Meelpaeg Reservoir to
develop the 25 m head which exists between the Reservoir and
Crooked Lake. The development will include a 3,000 m diversion
canal between Meelpaeg Reservoir and Island Pond, 750 m forebay
canal, dam, intake, penstock, powerhouse and transmission line.
The permanent access road will run from North Salmon Dam road via
the Ebbegunbaeg control structure. Construction is tentatively
scheduled to begin in the fall of 1999 for the transmission line
and the summer of 1998 for the major civil works and roads. The
project was previously registered on March 31, 1987 and an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was required. The EIS was
completed and received ministerial approval on September 23,
1993. The project was not initiated within three years of the
date of release and re-registration is required as per Section 10
(8) of the Environmental Assessment Regulations.
- Grand Falls Turbine Generator - Beeton Unit
Proponent: Abitibi-Price (Grand Falls Division)
The proponent proposes to construct a new penstock and
powerhouse extension on the Exploits River. This work is part of
an ongoing major rehabilitation program for the existing
hydroelectric facilities which have operated since the early
1900s. The hydroelectric facilities at Grand Falls consisted of
eight generators until the late eighties. At present, the
operation consists of units 5,6,7, and 8 which are four MW each
and unit 4 which is 28 MW. A new 30 MW turbine/generator (Beeton
Unit) will be installed in the powerhouse extension. Construction
is tentatively scheduled to begin in April, 1998 and continue for
approximately 24 months.
- Cape Bonavista Wind Power Project
Proponent: Tacke Windpower Inc.
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 15 MW Wind
Farm utilizing 25 wind turbines of 600 kW each, to be located on
Cape Bonavista near the Town of Bonavista. The wind turbines are
horizontal axis, three bladed wind energy converters with a
maximum hub height of 50 metres. The rotor diameter will be 43
metres. Connection to the power system is required near the
terminus of the 138 kV Newfoundland Power transmission line to
Bonavista. Each turbine row will have a five metre wide gravel
access road. Electrical service within the turbine rows is
installed underground. Construction is tentatively scheduled to
take six-seven months with the earliest in-service date of
November 1998.
- Grates Cove Wind Power Project
Proponent: Tacke Windpower Inc.
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 15 MW Wind
Farm utilizing 25 wind turbines of 600 kW each, to be located on
the Bay de Verde Peninsula near Grates Cove. The wind turbines
are horizontal axis, three bladed wind energy converters with a
maximum hub height of 50 metres. The rotor diameter will be 43
metres. Connection to the power system will be at the Tanks
Transformer Station located near Old Perlican. A 66 kV feeder
terminates at that point. Each turbine row will have a five metre
wide gravel access road. Electrical service within the turbine
rows is installed underground. Construction is tentatively
scheduled to take six - seven months with the earliest in-
service date of November 1998.
- Elliston Region Wind Power Project
Proponent: Tacke Windpower Inc.
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 15 MW Wind
Farm utilizing 25 wind turbines of 600 kW each, to be located on
Green and Burnt Ridges near the town of Bonavista. The wind
turbines are horizontal axis, three bladed wind energy converters
with a maximum hub height of 50 metres. The rotor diameter will
be 43 metres. Connection to the power system is required near the
terminus of the 138 kV Newfoundland Power transmission line to
Bonavista. Each turbine row will have a five metre wide gravel
access road. Electrical service within the turbine rows is
installed underground. Construction is tentatively scheduled to
take six - seven months with the earliest in- service date of
November 1998.
- Argentia Cogeneration Power Project
Proponent: Sithe Canadian Holdings Inc.
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 185 megawatt
oil- fuelled cogeneration facility to be located adjacent to the
proposed Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Ltd. smelter/refinery at
Argentia. The proposed development will use three 40 MW turbine
generators, three heat recovery steam generators and a single
large steam turbine. The facility will utilize approximately 12
to 15 acres of land. The proposed project is designed to operate
for 30 years. Construction is tentatively scheduled to take 20 to
22 months.
- Port Harmon Cogeneration Project
Proponent: Abitibi - Price Inc.
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 35 MW
cogeneration facility at its Stephenville Paper Mill at the
Harmon Complex Industrial Park. The undertaking will supply 35 MW
of power to the provincial grid and provide 110,000 - 160,000
pounds per hour of steam for the plant processes. The proponent
proposes to install two oil-fuelled package boilers and a turbine
generator. The new boilers would reduce the need for #6 fuel oil
in the power boiler. The cogeneration facility will be housed
within the existing structures at the mill complex. Construcition
is tentatively scheduled to begin in April 1999.
- Sheffield Lake Hydroelectric Development
Proponent: Deer Lake Power Company Ltd.
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a five MW
"run-of- river" hydroelectric generating station
located at Sheffield Lake. The proposed development will include
a dam and spillway at the outlet of Sheffield Lake, a 1,900 metre
penstock and a surface powerhouse located on the shore of Birchy
Lake. A 138 kilovolt (kV) transmission line will deliver energy
to the transmission line adjacent to the Trans Canada Highway.
Construction is tentativley scheduled to begin in mid 1998.
- Argentia Multiple Gas Turbine (GTS) Power Project
Proponent: Duke Energy Corporation
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 200 megawatt
combined cycle gas turbine and steam turbine generator. The plant
will be designed to operate with light fuel oil. The project will
be located adjacent to the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company
Smelter/Refinery. The major power building will be a
pre-engineered metal building. A tank farm will be constructed
and will provide approximately 60 days of fuel storage.
Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 1998.
- Southwest River (Phase 2) Small Hydro Development
Proponent: Frontier Hydro Development Limited
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a two MW
"run-of- river" small hydro-electric generating station
on the Southwest River near Port Blanford. The undertaking will
include the construction of a small concrete gravity
dam/spillway, intake structure, penstock, powerhouse and
transmission line. Access to the project will entail the
upgrading of the existing access road. Construction is
tentatively scheduled to begin in the fall of 1998.
- Come By Chance Cogeneration Power Project
Proponent: North Atlantic Refining Limited
The proponent proposes to produce 205 MW of electric power
through the gasification of refinery bottoms to synthetic gas in
an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) plant. The
proposed process will use heavy oil produced at the refinery
(refinery fuel oil bottoms) in a state-of-the-art technology to
produce a clean, sulphur-free gas that will be burned in the IGCC
plant's gas turbine driving the electric power generator. The
plant will include, an air separation unit, charge holding unit,
gasifiers, carbon extraction unit, low temperature gas cooling
unit, an acid gas removal unit, sulphur recovery unit, tail gas
recovery unit, boiler feed water preparation, air separation
unit, effluent water pretreatment, process control room, building
to house a turbine and power generator, access road, transmission
line, modifications to the existing electrical substation, and
associated pipelines. The proposed location is immediately
adjacent to the refinery. Construction is tentatively scheduled
to begin in July of 1998 and require 56 weeks.
- St. John's Southside Thermal Plant Repowering Project
Proponent: Newfoundland Light and Power Co. Ltd.
The proponent proposes to repower its St. John's Southside
Thermal Plant to generate 72.6 MW of power. The project consists
of replacing the existing boilers with a combination of equipment
including gas turbine generator and a heat recovery steam
generator. This plant was originally established in 1956 and had
a design capacity of 30 MW. Construction is tentatively scheduled
to begin early in 1998.
- Green Island Lake Cottage Development Plan
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands
The proponent proposes to allocate 95 cottage lots in three
designated areas near the community of Flower's Cove. The cottage
areas surround Eastern Lake, Green Island Lake and two small
ponds lying to the north. The lots will not be accessible by
road. The allocation of the lots will be carried out by the Lands
Branch tentatively in the spring of 1997.
The public is invited to examine these registration documents
and offer written comment to the minister on whether an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should be ordered. The
deadline for the receipt of public comments is March 30, 1997.
In the February 13, 1997, Environmental Assessment Bulletin it
was incorrectly stated that Roger Pottle was the contact for
purposes of environmental assessment for the project. The contact
person for the project is: Wayne T. Grimes (709) 437-1062.
The first draft of the Environmental Preview Report (EPR) has
been reviewed and additional revisions are required.
- NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REQUIRED
The minister has decided that an environmental impact
statement is not required for the following undertakings which
have recently been registered and examined by government and the
public. The undertakings are released subject to other regulatory
and permitting requirements.
- Newville Automobile Salvage Yard
- Star Lake Hydroelectric Project Dam Re-Alignment
A guide to the Environmental Assessment Process is available
from the Department of Environment and Labour. The minister
encourages all interested parties to become involved and to make
comments known. Further information may be obtained by contacting
the Director of Environmental Assessment at (709) 729-2562, or
toll-free: 1-800-563-6181 or by mail to:
Director, Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Labour
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700
St. John's, NF
A1B 4J6
Environmental Assessment News Releases are on the Internet
//www.gov.nl.ca/envlab/env_news.htm
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