Environmental Assessment Bulletin

Environment and Conservation Minister Tom Osborne has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

1. The Arches and Flat Hills Wind Power Project (Northern Peninsula)             (Reg. 1148)
   Proponent: Kruger Inc.

The proponent proposes to construct and operate a 40 MW (megawatt) wind farm at The Arches and Flat Hills, located between the town�s of Parson�s Pond and Portland Creek, on the Northern Peninsula in Western Newfoundland. The proposed project is for 26 wind turbine generators (WTGs) total, with10 installed at The Arches and 16 at the Flat Hills. The WTGs will have an electrical power generation capacity of approximately 1.5 MWs each. The proposed WTGs will have a rotor diameter of 80 metres and be installed on 80 metre towers. The proposed power generation will be connected to the grid as per Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro�s request for proposals. The undertaking was registered on August 17, 2004; public comments are due by September 22, 2004; and, the minister�s decision is due on October 1, 2004.

1. Rencontre East Transmission Line (Interconnection)                                    (Reg. 1149)
   Proponent: Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

The proponent plans to build a 41 kilometre single wood pole transmission line to connect to the island electrical grid and replace the temporary generators that have served Rencontre East since fire destroyed the diesel plant on September 2, 2002. Construction will proceed from Poole�s Cove, Rencontre East, and a temporary camp at the midway point. Materials will be delivered by helicopter and the right-of-way will be cleared to a width of eight metres. The transmission line will cross 24 water courses and the Bay Du Nord River. The Bay Du Nord Wilderness Reserve southern boundary is adjacent to 2.9 kilometres of the transmission line route which does not enter the reserve. The project is scheduled to start in January 2005 and commissioning in October 2005. The project was registered on August 18, 2004; public comments are due by September 22, 2004; and, the minister's decision is due by October 4, 2004.

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.

Further information may be obtained by contacting the Director of Environmental Assessment at (709) 729-4211 or toll-free: 1-800-563-6181 or by mail to:

Director, Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Conservation
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

2004 08 18                                      3:10 p.m.