NLIS 9
November 8, 2002
(Environment)

 

Environmental Assessment Bulletin

Environment Minister Kevin Aylward has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Grand Falls-Windsor to Badger Fibre Optic Transmission Line
Proponent: Newfoundland Power Inc.

The proponent proposes to construct a 24 kilometre aerial fibre optic transmission line from Grand Falls-Windsor to near Badger. The proposed route will follow woods roads from Grand Falls-Windsor heading west and will include an aerial crossing of the Exploit�s River in the vicinity of Tom Joe Brook to tie into the existing fibre optic line network approximately six kilometres east of Badger. The rational for the project is to provide greater separation of the two high density fibre routes along sections where the existing aerial and underground fibre routes run in the same corridor between Grand Falls-Windsor and Badger to reduce potential for failure. The proponent proposes to carry out the project immediately upon release from the environmental assessment process. The undertaking was registered on November 7, 2002; public comments are due by December 13, 2002; and the minister�s decision is due by December 22, 2002.

The minister encourages all interested parties to become involved and to make comments known. Comments on submitted documents are invited from the public, addressed in writing to the minister, and are welcome prior to the deadline date shown.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

(1) Abitibi-Consolidated Five Year Forest Management Plan District 10
Proponent: Abitibi-Consolidated Inc.

The above project has been released from further environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:

  • No silviculture activities occur within the Wooddale Agriculture Development Area until the proponent and the Agrifoods Branch of the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods reach an agreement concerning forestry activities within this area.
  • Develop a human resource plan within six months outlining specific initiatives and targets to address the need for gender equity in the undertaking, including provisions for the recruitment, training and/or other measures which would make these jobs more accessible to women. Also, to submit an employment monitoring report on an annual basis, including collection of employment statistics by gender in order to track progress on the plan to implement adjustment strategies if targets are not being attained.
  • As outlined on a map (click to view PDF)  of the Frozen Ocean Lake area.
  • Area 1. Culverts in this area are to be removed and the road entrance blocked.
  • Area 2. This area is to be withdrawn from the current five year plan.
  • Area 3. This area would be harvested in the winter or early summer. Also, contact must be made with Mr. Folkes, prior to the commencement of any harvesting activities in this area, to identify any potential concerns.
  • Area 4. This area is to be withdrawn from the current five year plan.

 

(2) CBPP District 5 and 6 Five Year Operating Plans
Proponent: Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited

The above project has been released from further environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:

  • Operating Area: Crown Ridge, Harvest Area: K-06-01 and Operating Area: Rodney Pond, Harvest Area: K-06-06 are prohibited from forestry activity until the Lieutenant-Governor in Council has made a final determination on the proposed Rodney Pond Ecological Reserve.
  • Mineral exploration and development on mineral licences within the operating areas must be allowed to proceed. Currently issued quarry permits within the operating areas must be permitted to continue with tolerance for some expansion.
  • In addition to the specified buffers the following buffers, whichever is larger, are to be implemented and maintained:
    - 100 metre buffer on Gander Lake and Gander River,
    - 100 metre buffer on Northwest and Southwest Gander Rivers,
    - buffers around water bodies as identified by the provincial archaeology office.
  • Cutting within a one kilometre buffer of the fishing lodge adjacent to Nut Brook is prohibited.
  • Prior to the commencement of any harvesting in the Jonathan's Pond Operating Area a sub-committee of the planning team must develop a detailed harvesting plan that meets with the agreement of the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
  • Harvesting in the Second Pond Operating Area must be conducted through winter operations where possible.
  • Harvesting in the First and Second Burnt Pond Operating Areas must be accessed by use of a temporary bridge across Middle Brook which, along with the forest access road, is to be decommissioned upon completion of the harvest in accordance with a decommissioning plan to be developed in consultation with the Freshwater-Alexander Bays Ecosystem Corporation, the Department of Forest Resources and Agrifoods and the Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.
  • All work in the Lanes Pond, Gull Lake and Coy Pond operating areas, which are within the calving and rutting areas of the Pot Hill caribou herd is to be done in summer, after July 15.
  • 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.
  • The additional employment information needed by the Women's Policy Office be supplied by the submission within three 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.

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 11 08                                        3:55 p.m. 


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