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April 14, 1997 (Environment and Labour) 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 minister has directed the proponent to prepare and submit an Environmental Impact Statement. The proponent will need to conduct original studies in order to adequately assess the potential impacts of the project on: health and safety of residents, tourism in the area, noise and odour levels, traffic, air quality, flora and fauna, impacts on freshwater fish and fish habitat, and the impacts of cooling water discharge on the marine environment. Further, the proponent will have to supply additional information to address the data gaps identified by some of the screening agencies and the public. A governmental Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to meet with the proponent to elaborate on these environmental concerns to be addressed in the EIS.
The minister has directed the proponents of the following projects to prepare an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) to address data gaps identified in the registration documents. This will assist the minister in defining the need for further assessment. Environmental Assessment Committees, with provincial and federal representatives, will be appointed to develop guidelines for these EPR's and give advice to the minister.
Additional information is required on: project description, water resources to be affected, an updated description of the fisheries resources and wildlife resources to be affected, an updated description of resource use/users, evaluation of potential impacts, mitigation and residual impacts.
Additional information is required on: project design features, hydrology, fish and fish habitat, potential impacts on the environment and users of the lake, mitigation, residual impacts and an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP).
Additional information is required on: project design features, air emissions, waste water discharge, process water supply, marine transportation of hydrocarbons, potential impacts on the environment in the Argentia area, mitigative measures, residual impacts and an EPP.
Additional information is required on: project design features, air emissions, waste water discharge, process water supply, marine transportation of hydrocarbons, potential impacts on the environment in the Argentia area, mitigative measures, residual impacts and an EPP.
Additional information is required on: air quality and recreation, information on freshwater and marine water supplies and intake, EPP, EEM, marine and freshwater fish and fish habitat, wastewater, noise and dust, emissions, the impact on the environment and local community, mitigative measures, residual impacts and an EPP.
Additional information is required on: hydrological details including water quality and quantity, an updated description of the fisheries resources to be affected, comparison between the 1993 EIS findings and the current proposal, potential impacts, mitigation, residual impacts and an EPP.
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 public. The undertakings are released subject to other regulatory and permitting requirements.
The Terms of Reference (TOR) for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project has been received. The TOR are intended to outline the content of the EIS and the baseline requirements for the component studies to be completed by the proponent during the course of the environmental assessment. The public is invited to review the TOR and submit comments. Comments will be received up until May 18, 1997. The minister's decision is due on May 28, 1997.
As a result of the 1997/98 Budget, the provincial government now requires that a $200 administrative fee be charged to all proponents registering an undertaking pursuant to the Environmental Assessment Act. This fee is effective as of April 1, 1997. Cheques must accompany registration documents and be made payable to the Newfoundland Exchequer Account. 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:
Environmental Assessment News Releases are on the Internet //www.gov.nl.ca/envlab/env_news.htm
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