March 12, 1998
(Environment and Labour)

Environmental Assessment Bulletin

Environment and Labour Minister Oliver Langdon 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 shown for each item.

NEW UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED

Crown Land-Forest Management District 15 (Corner Brook Area)
Five-Year Plan
Proponent: Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods

The proponent has submitted a five-year forest operating plan for Crown land in District 15. District 15 has 282,000 ha of productive forest lands, but only 10 per cent of this comes under Crown control, while the remainder is primarily under licence to CBPPL. The district includes lands along the south shore of Grand Lake, across Grand Lake down the Deer Lake Power Canal, up the Viking Trail to the southern end of Gros Morne National Park out to the coast along Bonne Bay and south down past Bay of Islands to the Serpentine Hills, and then, generally southeast out to the bottom of Grand Lake. The plan describes past forestry activities, reserves, the allocation of wood supply and harvesting, silvicultural areas, road construction and decommissioning, protected water supply areas and environmental protection and land use. Supporting maps for the appendices are available for review at the Environmental Assessment Division. The proposal was registered on March 5, 1998, public comments must be received by April 10, 1998 and the minister's decision is due on April 19, 1998.

Middle Arm Hatchery & Baie Verte Road Fish Out Pond
Proponent: Northern Fish Farms

The proponent proposes to construct and operate a fish hatchery at Adams Cove in the community of Middle Arm and a fish out pond on the Baie Verte Road approximately 20 kilometres from the town of Baie Verte. The hatchery will consist of five fibreglass troughs. Two will be used to incubate the eggs and the remaining three will be used to raise 40,000 fish before being transferred to two ponds which will be excavated 300 feet from the hatchery. The fish will be grown to about 10 to 12 inches and moved to the fish out pond on Baie Verte Road. The project was registered on March 9, 1998, public comments must be received by April 10, 1998 and the minister's decision is due on April 23, 1998.

Fischells Area Gypsum Quarry
Proponent: Newfoundland Aggregates (1991) Limited

The proponent proposes to develop and operate a gypsum quarry in the Fischells Area adjacent to Atlantic Gypsum's quarry and existing haul road. Approximately 80,000 to 120,000 tonnes of crushed gypsum production is anticipated on a seasonal basis from May to November. Mobile trailers will be used for storage. The proposal is tentatively scheduled to commence in the spring. The project was registered on March 10, 1998, public comments must be received by April 10, 1998 and the minister's decision is due on April 24, 1998.

Hampden Integrated Sawmill
Proponent: Burton's Cove Logging & Lumber Limited

The proponent proposes to operate an integrated sawmill approximately 1.5 kilometres east of the Town of Hampden, White Bay on the south side of Chouse Brook Road. The sawmill operation will include a debarker, a bull edger, a chipper, a twin saw and various conveyors. The mill will operate five days a week, 12 months a year. The proposal is tentatively scheduled to be completed in the spring. The project was registered on March 10, 1998, public comments must be received by April 10, 1998 and the minister's decision is due on April 24, 1998.

TERMS OF REFERENCE SUBMITTED

Trans Labrador Highway (Red Bay to Cartwright)
Proponent: Department of Works Services and Transportation

The proponent has submitted draft Terms of Reference (TOR) for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement and for the migratory bird/birds of prey, historic resources and wildlife component studies for the project. Copies of the draft TOR are available from the Environmental Assessment Division, St. John's office. Comments should be received from the public before April 15, 1998. The minister's decision on acceptance of the TOR is due on April 20, 1998.

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 at /env