NLIS 4
April 24, 2003
(Environment)

 

Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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

CARTWRIGHT JUNCTION TO HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY TRANS LABRADOR HIGHWAY

Proponent: Department of Works, Services and Transportation

The Cartwright Junction to Happy Valley-Goose Bay Trans Labrador Highway is subject to an environmental assessment under both Part 10 of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Protection Act and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have instituted a parallel process to ensure compliance with the requirements of a provincial Environmental Impact Statement and a federal Comprehensive Study. It has been determined that the Environmental Impact Statement/Comprehensive Study and four of the submitted Component Studies require further work and four of the submitted Component Studies are accepted as satisfactory. (The Historic Resources Component Study has previously been determined to be accepted as satisfactory.)

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The Cartwright Junction to Happy Valley Goose Bay Trans Labrador Highway Environmental Impact Statement (dated January 2003) has been determined to require further work under Part 10 of the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Protection Act, and the Comprehensive Study requires further work under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

A statement has been provided to the proponent to illustrate the further work that is required and to provide direction on the additional information required to make the Environmental Impact Statement and Comprehensive Study acceptable. The statement is divided into two parts: Part I identifies sections of the Guidelines which have not been addressed or have not been adequately addressed; Part II identifies sections of the Environmental Impact Statement and Comprehensive Study for which additional information is required, for which revisions or clarification is required and for which the analysis and/or interpretation is not correct. Suggested editorial modifications required for the Environmental Impact Statement and Comprehensive Study will be provided separately by the Chair of the Environmental Assessment Committee.

COMPONENT STUDIES DETERMINED TO REQUIRE FURTHER WORK:

(1) Caribou Component Study (dated December 2002)

In general terms, the further work that is required relates to mapping, caribou habitat and required points of clarification. A statement has been provided to the proponent to illustrate what further work is required and provide direction on the additional information required to make the Component Study satisfactory.

(2) Waterfowl Component Study (dated January 2003)

In general terms, the further work that is required relates to aerial survey coverage, concerns regarding the timing of the survey conducted in spring 2002 and a description of the wetland and riparian habitat. A statement has been provided to the proponent to illustrate the further work that is required and to provide direction on the additional information required to make the Component Study satisfactory. The proponent has been advised that any alternative route determined to be viable upon review of the Alternative Methods of Carrying Out the Project in the Environmental Impact Statement must have a Waterfowl Component Study completed for that alternative route.

(3) Fish and Fish Habitat Component Study (dated January 2003)

In general terms, the further work required relates to fish species and fisheries (for example: recreational, commercial, subsistence) and qualitative descriptions of fish populations. A statement has been provided to the proponent to illustrate the further work that is required and to provide direction on the additional information required to make the Component Study satisfactory. The proponent has been advised that any alternative route determined to be viable upon review of the Alternative Methods of Carrying Out the Project in the Environmental Impact Statement must have a Fish and Fish Habitat Component Study completed for that alternative route.

(4) Tourism and Recreation Component Study (dated January 2003)

In general terms, the further work required relates to insufficient characterization of the tourism and recreation industry and insufficient coverage of the tourism and recreation industry's contribution to the local economy. A statement has been provided to the proponent to illustrate the further work that is required and to provide direction on the additional information required to make the Component Study satisfactory.

COMPONENT STUDIES ACCEPTED AS SATISFACTORY:

The Raptor Component Study (dated January 2003) has been accepted as satisfactory for the preferred route only. The proponent has been advised that any alternative route determined to be viable upon review of the Alternative Methods of Carrying Out the Project in the Environmental Impact Statement must have a Raptor Component Study completed for that alternative route.

The Community Life, Employment and Business Component Study, the Labrador Innu Land and Resource Use Component Study and the Land and Resource Use Component Study (all dated January 2003) have been accepted as satisfactory.

Copies of the statements outlining what further work is required are available from the Department's website or by contacting Ed Kaufhold, Environmental Assessment Division, (709) 729-0090 or e-mail at ekaufhold@gov.nl.ca.

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, NL, A1B 4J6

Environmental Assessment Information is on the government Web site at //www.gov.nl.ca/env

2003 04 24                                       11:35 a.m.


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