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Environment and Conservation
June 22, 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.

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

5 Wing Labrador Practice Training Area Landing Strip                                        (Reg. 1516)
Proponent: Department of National Defence                               

The proponent proposes the construction and operation of a gravel/sand austere landing strip at the Practice Training Area (PTA) located in central Labrador. The proposed location of the airstrip currently contains a mock runway and is approximately 17 kilometres southwest of Minipi Lake. The airstrip will be 75-100 feet wide to allow medium transport aircraft to land and take off and will include a turn around area for loading/off-loading transport aircraft, while simultaneously allowing another aircraft to land or take-off. The landing strip will be used for transporting bomb scrap back from the PTA, used to satisfy the growing requirements for both air and ground force training in the region and used for the practice of soft surface take-off/landing operations. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in the summer/fall 2010.

The undertaking was registered on June 17, 2010; the deadline for public comments is July 27, 2010; and the minister's decision is due by August 1, 2010.

Bay St. George Land-Based Seismic Exploration Program                                 (Reg. 1515)
Proponent: Vulcan Minerals Inc.

The proposal involves 140 kilometres of land-based seismic data acquisition in the Bay St. George area.  The project will proceed in three phases: drilling; line cutting; and recording.  The project involves the cutting of approximately 114 kilometres of new hand-cut trails (roughly 2.75 metres in width).  Every 100 metres along these lines, a 10 metre deep hole will be formed using drills and small (two kilogram) dynamite charges will be buried.  Seismic data will then be acquired by generating sound waves at the surface and recording the echoes that return.  Cutting of the trails will take approximately six weeks and drilling is expected to take approximately one month. The drilling and line cutting phases will likely overlap by three to four weeks.  Recording is also estimated to take approximately one month, depending on weather conditions.  The project is scheduled to commence in July 2010, subject to approval.

The undertaking was registered on June 15, 2010; public comments are due by July 22, 2010; and the minister's decision is due by July 30, 2010.

Pinchgut Lake Cabin Area Electrical Distribution Line                                          (Reg.1514)
Proponent: Newfoundland Power Inc.

The proponent proposes to construct a 7,200 volt wood pole distribution line to provide electrical service to a cabin area located on the west side of Pinchgut Lake, west of Corner Brook, in the area known as the Girl Guide Camp Area. The new distribution line will be approximately 1,416 metres in length, and the proposed distribution corridor will be 5.4 metres in width with a single CCA-treated wood pole configuration located along the corridor centre line. Brush clearing and surveying are scheduled for July 2010, and pole installation is scheduled for August 2010.

The undertaking was registered on June 15, 2010; public comments are due by July 22, 2010; and the minister's decision is due by July 30, 2010.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

Peter's River, Botwood Quarry                                                                            (Reg. 1478)
Proponent: Humber Valley Aggregates and Asphalt Ltd.

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 06 22                                                     11:15 a.m.
 


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