Environment and Conservation
October 19, 2012
Environmental Assessment Bulletin
The Honourable Tom Hedderson, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
Bird Cove - St. Margaret’s Bay Hiking and ATV Trails (Reg. 1667)
Proponent: Town of Bird Cove and St. Barbe Development Association
Pouch Cove Quarry Extension (Reg. 1666)
Proponent: GWK Holdings Inc.
Spruce Brook Raspberry Farm (Reg. 1651)
Proponent: Spruce Brook Farms
Ltd.
The project is released from further environmental assessment; however, the undertaking will not proceed due to the following:
- The Department of Environment and Conservation will not issue a permit to use the T’Railway Provincial Park as an access to the proposed site.
IOC Explosives Facility Project (Reg. 1660)
Proponent: Iron Ore
Company of Canada
The project is released from further environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:
- Information regarding local employment strategies and procurement benefits must be provided to the Department of Natural Resources;
- Information regarding occupations over the two-year construction period must be submitted to the Department of Advanced Education and Skills;
- A minimum 30-metre undisturbed vegetated buffer must be maintained around all waterbodies.
Proposed Aspen Brook Sand and Gravel Quarry Expansion
Proponent:
Hunt's Concrete Ltd. (Reg. 1661)
The project is released from further environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:
- Operation of the quarry is to be limited to areas above the design flood high water mark and a minimum 100-metre undisturbed vegetated buffer between the proposed quarry operations and any watercourses must be maintained;
- A minimum 50-metre undisturbed vegetated buffer shall be maintained between the proposed quarry operations and the existing quarry to the west;
- A requirement to restrict quarry operating hours to be conducted between 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays only and not to operate the quarry between June 15 and September 15.
District 7 Crown 5 Year Operating Plan (2013-2017)
Proponent:
Department of Natural Resources (Reg. 1664)
The project is released from further environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:
- No proposed activities are permitted within the boundaries of the Bay du Nord Canadian Heritage River;
- Prior to road construction and harvesting activities in commercial blocks C-07-02 (Domshell Ridge), C-07-05 (North Salmon), C-07-10 (Goodyears), C-07-11 (Camp 6) and C-07-12 (Camp 4) the Wildlife Division must be consulted and provided with the results of botanical surveys to ensure adequate protection of plant and lichen species;
- No proposed activities are to be permitted in C-07-15 (Tangle Pond), C-07-12 (White Hills), C-07-27 (Conne Pond), C-07-08 (Bailey Bridge), C-07-19 (Thunderbolt Road) and C-07-26 (Camp 4) during caribou calving and post-calving periods (June 5–July 15) to minimize the impact on the caribou during this sensitive time;
- Any activities proposed within the potential surface water natural drainage areas must be referred to the appropriate community for review (Pool’s Cove, Rencontre East, Seal Cove F.B. and McCallum) prior to commencement;
- Any activities proposed within the unprotected surface water natural drainage area (Widgeon Pond) must be referred to the community of Pool’s Cove for review prior to commencement;
- No proposed activities in cutting block #6 are permitted within 50 metres of archaeological site CkBA-07 (Copper Head);
- No proposed activities in cutting block #26 are permitted within 100 metres of archaeological site CjAx-07 (L’Anse a Flamme).
ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT REQUIRED:
Fire Lake North Railway
Proponent: Champion Minerals Inc. (Reg. 1646)
The minister has determined that an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) is required to address additional information requirements related to potential socio-economic effects that may be caused by the undertaking. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide advice to the minister on guidelines for the proponent on the preparation of the EPR and the adequacy of the EPR when it is received from the proponent. The public will be invited to provide comments on the EPR upon its submission. For further information on this project contact Milt Crewe, committee chairperson at (709) 637-2375 or email at miltoncrewe@gov.nl.ca.
AMMENDMENT TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT:
Kami Iron Ore Project
Proponent: Alderon Iron Ore Corp. (Reg. 1611)
Alderon Iron Ore Corp has advised that clarifications and corrections should be made in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project. Comments regarding this amendment should be submitted within the current EIS review period deadline of November 20, 2012, as outlined in the October 1, 2012 environmental assessment bulletin.
The amendments are available and may be accessed on the department’s website www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2011/1611/index.html or by contacting the Co-chair of the Assessment Committee, Brent Keeping at (709) 729-4223 or e-mail EAprojectComments@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
2012 10 19 4:30 p.m.