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.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Fire Lake North Railway
Proponent: Champion Minerals Inc. (Reg. 1646)

As part of the Fire Lake North (FLN) iron ore project located in north-eastern Quebec, the proponent intends to construct a new 62 kilometre long single track railway line to connect to the existing Bloom Lake Railway (BLR) in Labrador West. A four kilometre rail line portion of this new line and a three kilometre long siding will be located within the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador and the remainder of the line and the load-out facilities will be located within the Province of Quebec. This proposal is necessary to deliver iron ore concentrate to the port of Sept-Iles for trans-shipment by ship to domestic and overseas customers.

The undertaking was registered on May 4, 2012; the deadline for public comments is June 12, 2012; and the minister’s decision is due by June 18, 2012.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

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

The project is released subject to the following conditions:

• The harvesting and silviculture restrictions outlined in “Schedule A” from the Wildlife Division.
• The proponent must consult with the Sustainable Development and Strategic Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, prior to operating in blocks that are within core caribou areas.
• No proposed activities are permitted within the boundaries of Fortune Head Ecological Reserve, Frenchman’s Cove Provincial Park and Lockston Path Provincial Park. All maps provided to domestic timber harvesters must include the boundaries of the parks and the reserve to ensure accidental harvesting does not occur.

Little Heart’s Ease - Deer Harbour ATV Trail (Reg. 1638)
Proponent: Deer Harbour Trails Association Inc.

UNDERTAKING REJECTED:

Notre Dame Junction - Snowmobile/ATV Trail
Proponent: Peckford Holdings Incorporated (Reg. 1629)

The project is rejected due to the following:

• The Department of Transportation and Works has determined that this development has the potential to conflict with merging traffic in the east bound passing lane of the Trans Canada Highway.
• Subsequently, a Crown land title (for application no. 139814) will not be issued based on the above reasons by the Land Management Division, Department of Environment and Conservation.
  

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 

2012 05 08             11:45 a.m.