Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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

NEW UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

Amendment to Abitibi-Consolidated Five Year Operating Plan for Forest Management District 12 (January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002).
Proponent: Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods

The proposed amendment is for two operating areas know as Badger Burn and Colishaw Block in central Newfoundland on lands transferred to the Crown (Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods) from Abitibi-Consolidated in a one year timber transfer agreement. The purpose of this amendment is to harvest and salvage up to 20,000 cubic metres of fire damaged and burnt timber as sawlogs, pulpwood or fuel from the forest fire area of 4,000 hectares between the town of Badger and Millertown Junction Road. This area is known as the Badger Burn Operating Area. Also, to harvest 7,500 cubic metres of mature and overmature forest left over from previous operations near Election Pond, west of Badger. This area is known as the Colishaw Block Operating Area. This amendment is required to provide employment to local operators and loggers in the Badger area and is for domestic as well as commercial cutting. The undertaking was registered on February 7, 2002; public comments are due on March 14, 2002; and, the minister's decision is due on March 24, 2002.

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 02 07                          4:15 p.m.