Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

(1) Abitibi District 5 Five Year Forestry Plan (2007-2011)                            (Reg. 1294)
Proponent: Abitibi Consolidated Inc.

The proponent has submitted a Five Year Operating Plan for Forest Management District 5. Forest Management District 5 is known as Bonavista North and is bounded by Gander River to the west, Bonavista Bay and Terra Nova National Park on the east and Gander Lake, Gambo Pond and Terra Nova Lake on the south, and includes Fogo Island. The Five Year Plan describes forest activities during the past five year planning period and proposed forest activities for the next planning period, including harvesting, road building, silviculture and forest protection. The undertaking was registered on September 19, 2006; public comments are due by October 27, 2006; and, the minister's decision is due by November 3, 2006.

(2) Portugal Cove Mink Fur Farm                                                 (Reg. 1295)
Proponent: NF Fur Farm Enterprises Inc.

The proponent proposes to construct a 4,000 female breeder mink fur farm producing approximately 20,000 kits annually off of Portugal Cove Road near Windsor Heights. The proponent plans to use the former Central Swine Breeding Station infrastructure including existing 10 sheds/barnes to house the mink, manure holding pit and access road. New construction will include three to four mink sheds/barns (eight metres wide by 91 metres long), a feed kitchen/cold storage building and perimeter fencing. The farm will be approximately 150 acres in size. Construction is planned to start in November 2006 and transfer of females in the spring of 2007. The undertaking was registered on September 18, 2006; public comments are due by October 27, 2006; and, the minister's decision is due by November 2, 2006.

(3) Crown District 2 (Bonavista Peninsula) Five Year Forestry Plan                     (2007-2011)
Proponent: Department of Natural Resources (Reg. 1296)

The proponent has submitted a Five Year Operating Plan for Forest Management District 2, which primarily covers the Bonavista Peninsula. The Five Year Plan describes forestry operations in the district for the operating period from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2011. The plan describes: past activities in the district; the proposed allocation of wood supply and forest harvesting; silviculture; forest road construction; forest protection, environmental protection measures; and, monitoring and research activities. The undertaking was registered on September 19, 2006; public comments are due by October 27, 2006; and, the minister's decision is due by November 3, 2006.

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) Black Mountain Pond/Little Soldier�s Pond (St. John�s) Sand Quarry
Proponent: Capital Ready Mix Ltd.                             (Reg. 1253)

The minister has released the above project from further environmental assessment review, subject to the following conditions:

• the proponent must obtain a satisfactory rezoning of the area covered by the proposal under the Butterpot-Witless Bay Line Environs Planning Area administered by Government Service Centre,
• the proponent is required to either exclude 31 ha of productive forest land from the proposal, or harvest merchantable timber at a time frame conducive to an existing forest operator and rehabilitate harvested areas with merchantable softwood tree species after removal of quarry resources, and
• the proponent must establish and maintain a 100 m buffer surrounding water bodies and
• the proponent must prepare and submit an Environmental Protection Plan, for the construction and operational phases of the undertaking, to be approved by the Minister of Environment and Conservation prior to the onset of construction. The Environmental Protection Plan is expected to consist of a field-ready document describing a coordinated plan of implementation of regulatory requirements from all agencies of government in the best manner for protection of the environment of the area of the undertaking.

(2) Fermeuse Wind Turbine Power Project                             (Reg. 1276)
Proponent: Vector Wind Energy Inc.

The minister has released the above project from further environmental assessment review, subject to the following conditions:

• Preparation of an avian and bat monitoring program, in consultation with the Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and Conservation and Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada which is required to be submitted to the minister for approval.
• Preparation of a noise impact assessment and viewscape analysis studies, in consultation with the Department of Environment and Conservation and Town of Fermeuse to determine acceptable distance and site locations for the wind turbines from the community is required to be submitted to the minister for approval.

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

2006 09 22                       11:25 a.m.