The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

Fermeuse Wind Turbine Power Project

Proponent: SkyPower Corporation (Reg. 1276)

The proponent has submitted a Noise and Visual Analysis Study as required by the Minister of Environment and Conservation as one of the conditions of release from further environmental assessment review on September 22, 2006. Public comments are due by May 25, 2008. For further information on the project, contact Paul Carter at (709)729-0188 or e-mail pcarter@gov.nl.ca

Bloom Lake Railway (Re-submission)

Proponent: Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. (Reg. 1378)

The proposal is to construct and operate a new 31.5 kilometre long single-track railway line to connect the company's new load-out facilities within Labrador with the existing railway line between Wabush Mines and the Quebec North Shore & Labrador Railway. The optimized rail line location remains within the same footprint corridor as originally proposed in 2006, but has been relocated in the Walsh River area to the north boundary of the corridor to address concerns raised by the Walsh River Cabin Owners Association. A marshalling yard and a section of double rail siding to hold 240 full and 240 empty rail cars will be built near the junction with the existing railway. The rail connection is necessary to deliver iron concentrates from the Bloom Lake Mine site to the port of Sept-Iles for trans-shipment by ship to overseas and domestic customers.

The undertaking was registered on April 25, 2008; public comments are due by June 2, 2008; and the minister's decision is due by June 9, 2008.

Comments on submitted documents are invited from the public, addressed in writing to the minister, and are welcome prior to the deadline date shown.

For further information on the environmental assessment process, please contact 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 department Web site at //www.gov.nl.ca/env.

Media contact:
Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications (Acting)
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca