Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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

FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE COMPENSATION PLAN ACCEPTABLE:

Long Harbour Commercial Nickel Processing Plant
Proponent: Vale Inco Newfoundland and Labrador Limited (Reg. 1243)

The minister has determined that the Fisheries and Aquaculture Compensation Plan, dated March 31, 2009, is acceptable subject to the following revisions:

• The plan will include a provision that will require Vale Inco to respond with an assessment decision (claim is accepted, or claim is rejected and therefore could go to the arbitration process) in a timely manner, normally within 30 days of receiving all the necessary information from the claimant.
• The plan is to be revised to indicate that the issuing of payments, once a claim has been approved, will be within 45 days. Currently, the document shows a 90 day turn around time for payments.
• The plan will include consideration for compensation claims that involve crewmembers on fishing vessels.

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Compensation Plan was required as one of the conditions of release for the project announced on August 26, 2008.

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 - 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 19                                                   11:00 a.m.