November 2, 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 REGISTERED:
Encanex Wastewater Treatment Operation (Reg. 1679)
Proponent: Encanex Environmental Oil & Gas Corp.
The proponent has submitted a proposal to establish and operate a
wastewater treatment facility at Pier 17 on the north side of St. John’s
Harbour. The proposed 5000 square foot existing infill site at Pier 17 is
located on the harbour front just east of the existing MI SWACO site and
south of the Battery Road and residential area. This facility will receive
wastewater from offshore drilling operations that may contain total
petroleum hydrocarbons, total suspended solids, solids (90 per cent > 50
microns), metals typically associated with hydrocarbons, and free oil. The
wastewater will be received from ship via piping on the existing
infrastructure. Wastewater will be treated at a maximum rate of 50 gallons
per minute and discharge water will meet Schedule A or B of the Newfoundland
and Labrador Treatment Control Water and Sewer Regulations. With the
necessary permits in place, treated water within these schedules will be
released to storm or sanitary sewer. The proposed facility will provide up
to five new jobs and treatment operations are scheduled to commence as early
as January 1, 2013.
The undertaking was registered on November 1, 2012; the deadline for public
comments is December 7, 2012; and the minister’s decision is due by December
16, 2012.
Crown District 19A Five-Year Operating Plan (2013 – 2017)
Proponent: Department of Natural Resources (Reg. 1678)
The proponent has submitted a Five-Year Operating Plan for Forest Management
District 19A. This district is approximately 2.27 million hectares of boreal
forest situated in the area of Upper Lake Melville, Labrador. Forest
Management Area (FMA) 19A is one of three subdivisions of FMA 19 in Central
Labrador. FMA 19 is generally bounded to the north by the Mulligan and Red
Wine Rivers, to the east by the height of land that separates the Kenamu
River watershed from those flowing into the Labrador Sea, to the south by
the height of land that separates the Gulf Watershed from those flowing into
the Labrador Sea, and to the west by a line at longitude 61º 45'. The
proposed project will mainly involve harvesting, silviculture and road
construction. Approximately 200,000 cubic metres of commercial timber is
scheduled to be harvested and a total of 61 kilometres of primary access
road to be constructed as a part of the operating plan.
The undertaking was registered on November 1, 2012; the deadline for public
comments is December 7, 2012; and the minister’s decision is due by December
16, 2012.
Crown Districts 9 & 16 (Jackson’s Arm) Five-Year Plan Amendment
Proponent: Department of Natural Resources (Reg. 1677)
The Department of Natural Resources has proposed an amendment to the current Crown Five-Year Operating Plan for Forestry Management Districts 9 and 16 near Jackson’s Arm. Local residents have requested an alternate domestic harvesting area due to increased difficulty accessing existing domestic harvest areas. Proposed harvesting will consist of domestic sawlog and firewood operations using chainsaws and extraction with snowmobiles. The estimated annual harvest will be approximately 400 cubic metres per year, with approximately twenty permits issued to local residents each year.
The undertaking was registered on October 29, 2012; the deadline for public comments is December 7, 2012; and the minister’s decision is due by December 13, 2012.
COMPONENT STUDY ACCEPTABLE:
Labrador – Island Transmission Link
Proponent: Nalcor Energy (Reg. 1407)
Following public, Aboriginal and governmental review, the Species of Special Conservation Concern Component Study, submitted on November 16, 2011, is acceptable.
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
Tel: 709-729-2813
Fax: 709-729-5518
Toll-free: 1-800-563-6181
pmarrie@gov.nl.caBill Coulter, Project Manager
Labrador-Island Transmission Link Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
1801 Hollis Street, Suite 200
Halifax, NS B3J 3N4
Tel.: 902-426-0564
Fax: 902-426-6550
Labrador-Island.TransmissionLink@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
UNDERTAKING RELEASED:
Bellevue Golf Course (Reg. 1663)
Proponent: L’Mariedo Enterprises Limited
The project is released from further environmental assessment review subject to the following conditions:
- With the exception of the access road, the proposed golf course must not be located within the protected public water supply area for the Local Service District of Bellevue.
- The proponent must maintain a minimum 100-metre buffer from the former public water supply well (unless the well has been properly sealed and decommissioned) in order to protect the groundwater quality in this well and any adjacent wells.
- A minimum 50-metre naturally vegetated buffer must be maintained along all waterbodies and wetlands to protect sensitive species and their habitat. This buffer must be strictly adhered to for tees, greens and fairways.
- The proponent must survey the area for eagles and osprey, if any nests are found in the area, an 800-metre construction activity buffer is recommended during the nesting and brood rearing periods (May to mid-July) which can be reduced to 200 metres during all other times of the year.
- Certification of the course under the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses must be achieved within three years from the start of construction. This Department must be notified of when this certification is obtained.
- An Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) shall be prepared by the proponent and approved by the Minister of Environment and Conservation prior to the start of construction.
- The golf course shall be designed such that its layout and operation will not interfere or otherwise conflict with adjacent residents or land use. A certificate of compliance, completed by a qualified professional, shall be submitted to the Department of Environment and Conservation for approval prior to the start of construction.
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 11 02 4:30 p.m.