Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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

ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REPORT SUBMITTED:
PUBLIC COMMENTS INVITED

Maritime Link Transmission Project   (Reg. 1618)
Proponent: ENL Maritime Link Inc.

The Maritime Link Transmission Project, as proposed by ENL Maritime Link Inc. (the proponent), involves the construction and operation of a new electrical power transmission system, including a proposed 500-megawatt (MW), +/- 200 to 250-kilovolt high voltage direct current (HVDC) and high voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission line between the Island of Newfoundland and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The scope of the project includes a new overhead HVAC transmission line from the existing substation at Granite Canal, to the Burgeo Highway along approximately 30 kilometres of new right-of-way (RoW) and proceeding 68 kilometres along existing transmission corridor to a proposed converter station at Bottom Brook. From Bottom Brook the new line would proceed along an existing transmission corridor of approximately 135 kilometres to Cape Ray, Newfoundland. The HVDC transmission line would then cross the Cabot Strait via two subsea cables spanning approximately 180 kilometres from Cape Ray, Newfoundland to Point Aconi, Nova Scotia.

The main elements of the project include: transmission corridors (HVDC transmission, HVAC transmission, grounding system transmission lines); subsea cables; shore grounding facilities; two converter stations and adjoining substations; two transition compounds (for converting underground subsea cables to overhead transmission conductors); and other potential infrastructure, as required.

On December 1, 2011, the proponent registered the Maritime Link Transmission Project for environmental assessment, in accordance with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Protection Act.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation invites the public to participate in the environmental assessment process. The Department of Environment and Conservation is currently seeking public comments on the Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report), a document that describes the project and provides an overview of the potential environmental effects of all phases of the project. The complete EA Report is available on the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation website at: www.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2011/1618/index.html (Registration 1618).

This project is also subject to the environmental assessment requirements of the Government of Nova Scotia.

Persons submitting comments are asked to use the format for submission of public comments located at:
www.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2011/1618/index.html

Written comments must be received by February 21, 2013. Please send to:
Milton Crewe, Project EA Co-chair
Maritime Link Transmission Project
Department of Environment and Conservation
PO Box 2006
Corner Brook NL A2H 6J8
Tel.:709-637-2375
Fax: 709-637-2541
EAProjectComments@gov.nl.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 contact:
Melony O’Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca

2013 01 17                                 4:40 p.m.