Environment and Conservation
December 8, 2011

Environmental Assessment Bulletin

The Honourable Terry French, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

COMPONENT STUDIES REQUIRE FURTHER WORK:

Labrador – Island Transmission Link
Proponent: Nalcor Energy                                        (Reg. 1407)

Following public, Aboriginal and governmental review of the following four component studies submitted on May 19, 2011, it has been determined that the proponent needs to provide additional information for review. The component studies include:

• Vegetation Component Study
• Freshwater Environment: Fish and Fish Habitat and Water Resources Component Study
• Socio-economic Environment: Communities, Land and Resource Use, Tourism and Recreation Component Study
• Historic and Heritage Resources Component Study

The revised component studies, when submitted, will be subject to a legislated 35-day public, Aboriginal and governmental review period.

COMPONENT STUDY ACCEPTABLE:

Labrador – Island Transmission Link
Proponent: Nalcor Energy                                         (Reg. 1407)

Following public, Aboriginal and governmental review, the following component study, submitted on May 19, 2011, is acceptable:

• Socio-economic Environment: Marine Fisheries in the Strait of Belle Isle Component Study

The component studies are available on the Department of Environment and Conservation website at: www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2010/1407/index.html

For further information on the project, please contact the following:

Pat Marrie, Project EA Chair
Labrador-Island Transmission Link Project
Department of Environment and Conservation
4th Floor, West Block, Confederation Complex
PO Box 8700
St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6
709-729-2813
Fax: 709-729-5518
Toll-free: 1-800-563-6181
pmarrie@gov.nl.ca

Bill Coulter, Project Manager
Labrador-Island Transmission Link Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
1801 Hollis Street, Suite 200
Halifax, NS B3J 3N4
902-426-0564
Fax: 902-426-6550
Labrador-Island.TransmissionLink@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

Forest Management Districts 2 and 3 Five-Year Operating Plan (2012-2016)
Proponent: Department of Natural Resources           (Reg. 1620)

The proponent has submitted a Five-Year Operating Plan for Forest Management Districts 2 and 3 (Planning Zone 2). Planning Zone 2 is located in eastern Newfoundland and extends from Long Harbour River, Northwest River and Terra Nova National Park in the west to Come by Chance in the east and includes all of the Bonavista Peninsula, Burin Peninsula and all the islands in Placentia Bay. The plan describes proposed forestry operations from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016 including commercial and domestic harvesting of approximately 793,000 cubic metres of timber, 47 kilometres of primary forest access road construction and silviculture. This proposal is necessary in order to maintain and/or expand the existing commercial industry and allow domestic harvest for home heating.

The undertaking was registered on December 8, 2011; the deadline for public comments is January 12, 2012; and the minister’s decision is due by January 21, 2012.

Forest Management Districts 4, 5, 6 and 8 Five-Year Operating Plan (2012-2016)
Proponent: Department of Natural Resources             (Reg. 1619)

The proponent has submitted a Five-Year Operating Plan for Forest Management Districts 4, 5, 6 and 8 in Planning Zone 3. Planning Zone 3 extends from Seal Bay in the northwest, easterly along the coast to New-Wes-Valley in the northeast, then southerly to Terra Nova National Park in the east and then west along the northern edge of the Bay Du’ Nord Wilderness Area to the general area of the Bay D’Espoir Highway near Great Gull Lake. The plan describes proposed forestry operations from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2016 and includes forest access road construction and decommissioning, proposed allocation of wood supply and forest harvesting, silviculture, forest protection, forest management research and monitoring and conservation activities.

Approximately 2.2 million cubic metres of timber is scheduled to be harvested by the Crown in Districts 4, 5, 6 and 8 over the next five years. New primary access road construction is expected to total 176.2 kilometres, new secondary access road construction will total 277 kilometres and 71 kilometres of road will be reconstructed. A total of 16.2 kilometres of road will be decommissioned.

The undertaking was registered on December 8, 2011; the deadline for public comments is January 12, 2012; and the minister’s decision is due by January 21, 2012.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REQUIRED:

Kami Iron Ore Project
Proponent: Alderon Iron Ore Corp.                             (Reg. 1611)

The minister has advised the proponent that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
is required for this project. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to prepare draft guidelines for conducting the EIS. The public will be invited to provide comment on the draft guidelines. For further information on this project, contact the Environmental Assessment Committee co-chairperson Brent Keeping at 709-729-4223 or e-mail bkeeping@gov.nl.ca 

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 12 08                           3:45 p.m.