Environmental Assessment Bulletin

Environment Minister Ralph Wiseman has announced the following events relative to the Environmental Assessment Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Deer Lake Commercial-Retail Land Development
Proponent: Town of Deer Lake

The proponent proposes the development of approximately 15 hectares of land into a new commercial-retail area which is expected to accommodate such things as automotive dealers, accommodation facilities, restaurants, retail stores and businesses, grocery chains and department stores. The site is bounded by Route 430 on the northeast, the Humber River on the northwest, a residential area on the southwest and existing commercial development on the southeast. Land is proposed to be subdivided and developed into individual serviced lots. Access is proposed to be provided by construction of a new L-shaped road that would connect Route 430 with the Trans Canada Highway. Work on the development would be phased over a 36 month period as dictated by demand, beginning in the summer of 2002. The undertaking was registered on January 10, 2002, public comments are due February 18, 2002 and the minister's decision is due February 24, 2002.

UNDERTAKINGS CONDITIONALLY RELEASED:

Abitibi Consolidated District 9 Five Year Operating Plan (Sheffield Lake/Springdale/ Baie Verte)
Proponent: Abitibi Consolidated Incorporated

The minister has released the undertaking subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. If cutting must occur within the three blocks identified by Inland Fish and Wildlife Division prior to the completion of the pine marten suitability modeling exercise, then all harvesting should be done on a selective basis following the guidelines established by the Pine Marten Recovery Team and in consultation with that division; following analysis of the model outputs, that division may require amendments to operating areas and/or harvest methods per the Pine Marten Recovery Plan.

2. The additional employment information needed by the Women's Policy Office be supplied within six months of a Human Resource Plan for this undertaking, outlining specific initiatives and targets to address the need for gender equity in the undertaking, and that the proponent submit an employment monitoring report on an annual basis, including collection of employment statistics by gender in order to track progress on the plan and to implement adjustment strategies if targets are not being attained.

Abitibi Consolidated District 5 Five Year Operating Plan
Proponent: Abitibi Consolidated Incorporated

The minister has released the undertaking subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. The additional employment information needed by the Women's Policy Office be supplied within six months of a Human Resource Plan, outlining specific initiatives and targets to address the need for gender equity in the undertaking, and that the proponent submit an employment monitoring report on an annual basis, including collection of employment statistics by gender in order to track progress on the plan and to implement adjustment strategies if targets are not being attained, and

2. The pine marten habitat suitability model must be run for the district. Following the analysis of model outputs, the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division may require amendments to operating areas and/or harvest methods to allow for continued protection and recovery of the endangered pine marten population.

Abitibi Consolidated District 6 Five Year Operating Plan
Proponent: Abitibi Consolidated Incorporated

The minister has released the undertaking subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. Harvest Areas AC-06-06, AC-06-07 and AC-06-08 are prohibited from any forestry activity until a final determination has been made on the proposed Rodney Pond Ecological Reserve, and

2. The additional employment information needed by the Women's Policy Office be supplied within six months of a Human Resource Plan for this undertaking, outlining specific initiatives and targets to address the need for gender equity in the undertaking, and that the proponent submit an employment monitoring report on an annual basis, including collection of employment statistics by gender in order to track progress on the plan and to implement adjustment strategies if targets are not being attained, and

3. The pine marten habitat suitability model must be run for the district. Following the analysis of model outputs, the Inland Fish and Wildlife Division may require amendments to operating areas and/or harvest methods to allow for continued protection and recovery of the endangered pine marten population.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

St. Lawrence Wind Demonstration Project
Proponent: The NeWind Group

The minister has released the undertaking from further environmental assessment with the provision that the environmental protection plan to be developed must receive approval of the Minister of Environment prior to any construction activity taking place.

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 Information is on the Government Web Site at www.gov.nl.ca/env

2002 01 14                          11:30 a.m.