Environmental Assessment Bulletin

Environment Minister Ralph Wiseman has announced the following events relative to the Environmental Assessment Act. Copies of documents may be obtained by contacting the Department of Environment at 729-2562 or by calling toll-free 1-800-563-6181. Comments on documents are invited from the public, addressed in writing to the minister and are welcome prior to the deadline date.

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

1) Rocky Harbour, Northern Peninsula, Cottage Development Plan
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands

The proponent proposes to add 17 additional remote cottage lots to the 25 lots approved in the 1997 Rocky Harbour Cottage Development Plan. All 25 lots have been allocated by the Lands Branch and there is high demand from the public for more lots. The project will not involve any construction by the proponent. Access and parking will be via two approximately 200 m existing roads that cross the 30 m strip of land north and east of Route 430 which is under the jurisdiction of Gros Morne National Park. The new lots are proposed for six areas west of Eastern Arm Pond and within the Rocky Harbour enclave set in the park boundaries. It is proposed to begin allocating lots in the fall of 2001. The project was registered on July 18, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision is due September 1. 

2) Cape Pond Road (Tors Cove) Cottage Development Plan
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands

The proponent proposes the development of 18 additional cottage lots on Cape Pond Road, located approximately five km west of Tors Cove off the Southern Shore Highway. The undertaking is required to fulfill existing demand for cottage lots in the area. The existing road and infrastructure will be utilized for the development so no new road construction is required. Lots will be approved for installation of in-ground waste disposal systems which will be installed by the property owners. The cottage lots are expected to be allocated in the fall of 2001. The project was registered on July 18, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision is due September 1.

3) Placentia Junction Cottage Development Plan
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands

The proponent proposes the development of 47 infill cottage lots on Rhodies Pond, Placentia Junction, approximately 11 km from Whitbourne, off Route 100. The undertaking is required to fulfill existing demand for cottage lots in the area.. The undertaking is being conducted in two phases with 35 lots in Phase I completed in fall 2000 and 12 lots in Phase II to be completed in fall 2001. Phase I required the upgrading and ditching of 5.4 km of the existing abandoned rail line and the installation of eight pull offs. Phase II requires construction of 500 m of new road, five m wide, constructed to a class "C" resource access road standard. Lots will be approved for installation of in-ground waste disposal systems which will be installed by the property owners. The Phase II cottage lots are expected to be allocated in the fall of 2001 with the new road constructed in the fall of 2002. The project was registered on July 18, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision is due September 1.

4) Bull Pond Cottage Development
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands

The proponent proposes to add 28 additional cottage lots on Bull Pond, Salmonier Line (Route 90). Approximately 1.8 km of new road will be required. The road will be five metres wide and constructed to a class "C" resource access road standard. The project has been undertaken due to existing demands for additional cottage lots in the general area of Bull Pond and Salmonier Line. The project was registered on July 18, 2001, public comments are due on August 23, and the minister's decision is due on September 1.

5) Bluff Head Big Pond (Random Island) Cottage Development Plan
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands

The proponent proposes to develop 14 cottage lots on Bluff Head Big Pond. Approximately 700 m of new road construction will be required. Allocation of these lots will be carried out by the Lands Branch, Eastern Regional Office. The project was registered on July 18, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision is due September 1.

6) Grandy's Pond (Burin Peninsula) Cottage Development Plan
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands

The proponent proposes to develop 10 cottage lots and six remote cottage lots on Grandy's Pond. Approximately 450 metres of new road construction will be required. Allocation of these lots will be carried out by the Lands Branch, Eastern Regional Office. The project was registered on July 18, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision is due September 1.

7) Deep Bight Pond (Clarenville Area) Cottage Development Plan
Proponent: Department of Government Services and Lands

The proponent proposes to develop 48 cottages on Deep Bight Pond. There will be a total of 1.6 km of new road construction. Allocation of these lots will be carried out by the Lands Branch, Eastern Regional Office. The project was registered on July 18, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision is due September 1.

8) Heart's Content Boat Building and Fibreglassing Facility
Proponent: JSS Enterprises Limited

The proponent proposes to construct, repair and fibreglass boats at an existing building in Heart's Content. The wooden building is located at the slipway in Heart's Content and measures 40 feet by 70 feet. Work would be carried out year round. The project was registered on July 19, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision is due September 2.

9) Bears Cove (Bay Roberts) Cod Hatchery
Proponent: Newfoundland Aqua Ventures Inc.

The proponent proposes to construct a cod hatchery facility at Bears Cove, Bay Roberts, bordering on the waters of Spaniard's Bay. The facility will consist of one building, 26 m by 41 m and 4.75 m high which will contain tanks and water filtration systems. Construction is proposed to commence in September 2001 and completed in May 2002. The operation entails hatching cod eggs and growing out in tanks until the cod are large enough to move to ongrowing sites. Marine water will be obtained through an intake, heated or cooled, filtered, and 80 per cent will then be reused. Fish waste and uneaten feed will be removed from water through a drum filter and the effluent will be directed to a settling pond before being discharged. The undertaking was registered on July 19, 2001, public comments are due August 23, and the minister's decision date is September 2. 

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 
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, NF, A1B 4J6

Environmental Assessment news releases are on the Internet at /env

2001 07 19                                                   3:55 pm.