Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT SUBMITTED:

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

Nalcor Energy is proposing the construction and operation of an approximately 1,100 kilometre transmission line and associated infrastructure within and between Labrador and the Island of Newfoundland. The project includes a high voltage direct current overhead transmission line commencing at a converter station at Muskrat Falls in central Labrador, proceeding southeast across Labrador, crossing the Strait of Belle Isle via submarine cables, and proceeding across Newfoundland to end at a converter station at Soldiers Pond on the Avalon Peninsula. Electrodes (with associated transmission lines) will be installed at or near the ocean at two locations, Strait of Belle Isle (L’Anse au Diable) and Conception Bay South (Dowden’s Point).

On February 2, 2009, the proponent registered the Labrador-Island Transmission Link for environmental assessment, in accordance with the Environmental Protection Act. The proposed project is undergoing a cooperative provincial/federal environmental assessment process.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) invite the public to participate in the environmental assessment process. The provincial Department of Environment and Conservation is seeking public comments on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), a document that describes the project and provides an overview of the potential environmental effects of all phases of the project. To facilitate public participation, a summary of the EIS (in both official languages) is available on the Agency’s website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (registry reference number 10-03-51746). The complete EIS is available (in the language in which it was produced) on the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation website at www.env.gov.nl.ca (Registration 1407) and on the Agency’s website. Persons submitting comments are asked to use the format for submission of public comments located at www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2010/1407/index.html 

Written comments must be received by June 12, 2012. Please send to:
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

or

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

All comments received will be considered public and will become part of the project file.

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 contacts:

2012 04 12                           1:40 p.m.