Environment and Conservation
January 7, 2011

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:

Hughes Brook Residential Subdivision
Proponent: Miceal O’Leary                                                                             (Reg. 1552)

The proponent proposes to develop a 100 building lot residential subdivision in the community of Hughes Brook, Humber Arm. The development will cover an area 26 hectares in size and will be located at the end of the community of Hughes Brook. The proposed development includes bungalow style homes 1,000 to 1,200 square feet in size on half acre lots. Each lot will have a designated septic field and artesian well water supply. Construction is planned to commence in April 2011 and will be phased in with up to 40 lots available in summer 2011.

The undertaking was registered on January 5, 2011; the deadline for public comments is February 11, 2011; and the minister’s decision is due by February 19, 2011.

Come By Chance Liquid Asphalt Storage Facility
Proponent: Asphalt Product Industries                                                           (Reg. 1551)

The proponent proposes to construct and operate an asphalt storage terminal at Come By Chance for the handling and storage of asphalt cement, also known as bitumen, used in the road construction industry. The project will employ approximately 50 people during the construction period and five people during the operational phase. The project provides road construction companies within the area with an alternate source of liquid asphalt cement. The terminal will initially provide 12,000 tonnes of asphalt cement storage with provision for future growth as demand increases. The construction period is expected to be four months beginning in 2011 and the project is expected to have a design life of 20 years.

The undertaking was registered on January 6, 2011; the deadline for public comments is February 11, 2011; and the minister’s decision is due by February 13, 2011.

Forest Management Districts 10, 11, 12 and 13, Five-Year Operating Plan (2011-2015) Proponent: Department of Natural Resources                                                                                                   (Reg.1550)

The passing of Bill 75 resulted in the expropriation and return to Crown, timber lands associated with Forest Management Districts (FMDs) 10, 11, 12 and 13 previously vested to Abitibi-Bowater. With the return of these timber lands to the Crown, it was the Department of Natural Resources position that the management of these lands would be consistent with the strategies and philosophies in effect in all other Crown managed districts in the province. This plan which covers the period January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2015 reflects these changes and will replace the 2008-2012 plan previously prepared by Abitibi-Bowater for this area. Planning Zone Five encompasses FMDs 10, 11, 12 and 13. It is located in central Newfoundland and extends from Victoria Lake in the west to the Bay d’Espoir highway in the east and from Island Pond in the south to North and South Twin Lakes in the north. Major towns located within the zone are Bishop’s Falls, Grand Falls-Windsor, Badger, Millertown and Buchans. Approximately 20,200 hectares with 2.45 million cubic metres of timber are scheduled to be harvested. Harvesting activities will include pulpwood, sawlog, and fuelwood using chainsaws and mechanical harvesters. Skidders may be used for some slope harvesting and chainsaws for domestic harvesting. Approximately 193 kilometres of primary forest access roads will be constructed over the five-year operating plan.

The undertaking was registered on January 4, 2011; public comments are due by February 11, 2011; and the minister’s decision is due by February 18, 2011.

UNDERTAKING REJECTED:

Argentia Wind Farm Resubmission                                                                   (Reg. 1462)
Proponent: Wind Project Inc.

The Lieutenant Governor in Council has declared as a matter of policy that there shall be no environmental assessment pursuant to Part X Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act for commercial wind energy generation projects which propose to produce energy for sale. Therefore, the Province is not prepared to conduct an environmental assessment of the proposed project and the undertaking cannot proceed.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

Gambo Pond Cottage Access Road Extension                                                    (Reg. 1533)
Proponent: Edward J. Moss

The above project has been released, subject to the following condition:

The road must be built to Forestry Class “C-2” Resource Road standard, is a minimum of 5.5 metres wide, a maximum grade of 10 per cent and includes cross drain culverts with ditch blocks appropriately spaced to prevent washouts and erosion.

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

2011 01 07                                                                          10:40 a.m.