Joint Review Panel Report Released on Environmental Assessment of the
Proposed Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project

Canada’s Environment Minister Peter Kent, along with Newfoundland and Labrador’s Minister of Environment and Conservation Ross Wiseman, today released the environmental assessment report of the Joint Review Panel for the proposed Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project near Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Labrador.

Minister Kent and Minister Wiseman wish to thank the Joint Review Panel, the co-chairs and members for conducting a review of the project. The Joint Review Panel was mandated by the federal and provincial ministers to assess the environmental effects of the proposed project.

Both governments will now take the time required to review the Joint Review Panel’s findings. The Government of Canada and Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will respond to the Joint Review Panel report, after consulting with Aboriginal groups, and will each make a determination on the project. The governments’ responses to the Joint Review Panel report will then be made public.

An executive summary of the report in both official languages is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca,  registry number 07-05-26178. Aboriginal language translations are being undertaken and will be posted when completed. The Joint Review Panel report is available on the website of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Environment and Conservation at www.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2010/1305/lower_churchill_panel_report.pdf 

Nalcor Energy proposes to construct two hydroelectric generating stations with a total capacity of just over 3,000 megawatts (MW) on the lower Churchill River, together with transmission lines to connect the two generation sites to the existing Churchill Falls generation facility. The proposed generation stations would be located at Muskrat Falls (824 MW) and Gull Island (2250 MW).

- 30 -

Media contacts:

2011 08 25                                      2:20 p.m.