Environment and Conservation
February 16, 2010
Environmental Assessment Bulletin
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.
UNDERTAKING RELEASED:
Schefferville Area Iron
Ore Mine
Proponent: Labrador Iron Mines Limited (Reg. 1379)
On February 12, 2010 the
Minister of Environment and Conservation informed
Labrador Iron Mines Limited that, under the authority of
Section 67(3) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act
SNL 2002, cE-14.2, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council
has released the Schefferville Area Iron Ore Mine from
further environmental assessment, subject to the
following terms and conditions:
- Labrador Iron Mines
Limited is to prepare an Environmental Protection
Plan and submit it to the Minister of Environment
and Conservation and receive the minister's approval
for the plan prior to the start of construction. The
Environmental Protection Plan shall address, but not
be limited to, caribou monitoring and mitigation in
the vicinity of the project, process effluent
treatment and monitoring procedures, settling pond
design and operation for storm water and pit
dewatering discharges.
- Labrador Iron Mines
Limited must finalize a Newfoundland and Labrador
Benefits Plan to the satisfaction of the Minister of
Natural Resources. This plan will be attached as a
condition of the mining lease(s) to be issued under
the authority of the Minister of Natural Resources.
- Labrador Iron Mines
Limited must finalize regulatory approval for the
railway spur line with the Department of
Transportation and Works prior to the commencement
of construction activities. All costs associated
with this process are to be borne by Labrador Iron
Mines Limited.
- Labrador Iron Mines
Limited is to prepare a Women's Employment Plan
acceptable to the Minister responsible for the
Status of Women and submit it prior to the start of
construction.
- Labrador Iron Mines
Limited is to enter into a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Department of Environment and
Conservation for the installation of a real time
water quality/quantity monitoring network, prior to
the start of construction, to monitor water quality
and quantity.
- Labrador Iron Mines
Limited is required to adhere to all mitigation,
monitoring and follow-up commitments made by the
proponent in the Environmental Impact Statement
submitted August 25, 2009.
DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
Salmonier Pond Access
Road and Atlantic Salmon Nursery
Proponent: Gray Aqua Group Limited (Reg. 1439)
The minister advises that
the Assessment Committee has prepared draft guidelines
for public review and comment. The comments received
during the public review will be considered by the
committee and the minister before the final guidelines
are issued to the proponent. The final guidelines will
enable the proponent to proceed with preparation of the
Environmental Impact Statement which will also be made
available for public review upon submission by the
proponent. Comments from the public on the draft
guidelines must be received by March 28, 2010.
The draft guidelines are
available and may be accessed on the Department's
website at
//www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/Env/EA%202001/pages/active%20projects.htm
or by contacting the Chair of the Assessment Committee,
Paul Rideout at 709-729-0834 or e-mail
paulrideout@gov.nl.ca.
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
Pinware River - Route 510
(Trans Labrador Highway) Realignment
Proponent: Department of Transportation and Works (Reg.
1455)
The undertaking was
released subject to the following conditions:
- The proponent is
required to prepare and submit an Environmental
Protection Plan to be approved by the minister prior
to the commencement of construction.
- The proponent must
complete an Archaeological Impact Assessment for the
proposed route and submit it to the Provincial
Archaeology Office prior to the commencement of
construction.
Piper's Hole Sand Quarry
Proponent: Sparkes Trucking Limited (Reg. 1458)
Southwest River, St.
George's Quarry
Proponent: Humber Valley Aggregates and Asphalt Ltd.
(Reg. 1460)
The undertaking was
released subject to the following condition:
- Humber Valley
Aggregates and Asphalt Ltd. must maintain an
undisturbed buffer zone of 50 metres between the
high water mark of Southwest Brook and the quarry.
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 website at
//www.gov.nl.ca/env.
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Media contact:
Melony O'Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
2010 02 16
5:10 p.m.
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