May 6, 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 UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Forest Management District 18 Silviculture Amendments (Roddickton)
Proponent: Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods

The proponent proposes three amendments for silviculture to the District 18 Five Year Operating Plan. The amendments are aimed at addressing insect-killed areas that are suitable for stand reclamation work. Forest Management District 18 is roughly the northern half of the Great Northern Peninsula totalling 443,547 hectares. The amendments, totalling 140 hectares, are for the following areas : (A) south of the new Hare Bay Highway near an area known locally as Three Ponds; (B) also south of the new Hare Bay highway, (C) still south of the new Hare Bay highway near West Brook. The project was registered on May 1, 1998, public comments must be received by June 5, 1998 and the minister's decision is due on June 15, 1998.

Happy Valley-Goose Bay to Mud Lake Distribution Line
Proponent: Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 25 kilovolt (kv) distribution system between Happy Valley-Goose Bay and the community of Mud Lake. The proposed distribution system will provide electric power and energy to the community of Mud Lake from the interconnected system. The proposed route begins near the community of Happy Valley-Goose Bay at Riverview Drive, and runs in a south-easterly direction for approximately 7.5 kilometres to the Churchill River. A submarine cable will cross the Churchill River, a distance of approximately 1.9 kilometres, and a 25 kv distribution line will continue from the Churchill River for a distance of approximately 1.5 kilometres to its termination point near the community of Mud Lake. The proposed Mud Lake distribution system will be interconnected with the Happy Valley-Goose Bay distribution system by a step down transformer at Mud Lake. The project was registered on May 4, 1998, public comments must be received by June 5, 1998 and the minister's decision is due on June 18, 1998.

UNDERTAKING WITHDRAWN

Vern Lake (Labrador West) Land Reclamation Project
Proponent: Wabush Mines

The proponent has withdrawn its registration of the above project from the provincial environmental assessment process. Wabush Mines will re-submit a registration document at a later date.

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 public. The undertakings are released subject to other regulatory and permitting requirements.

Crown Land-Forest Management District 15 (Corner Brook Area)

Fischells Area Gypsum Quarry

Middle Arm Hatchery and Baie Verte Road Fish Out Pond

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

1998 05 06                          4:00 p.m.