February 3, 2014
Environmental Assessment Bulletin
The Honourable Joan Shea, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.
UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:
Amendment to Crown Five-Year Operating Plan FM District 1 (2012-2016) (Reg. 1739)
Proponent: Forestry and Agrifoods Agency
The proponent has submitted an amendment to their Five-Year Operating Plan to allow access to 37 hectares of mature balsam fir and spruce stands that have reached an operable age for harvesting adjacent to an approved agriculture development area. The management of the area will be completed by a commercial harvesting and sawmill contractor from Forest Management District 1. A new two kilometre class D road is proposed to access the area and the adjacent agricultural development. Operations will commence in the spring and continue through the 2014 operating season.
The undertaking was registered on January 28, 2014; the deadline for public comments is March 10, 2014; and the minister’s decision is due by March 10, 2014.
Crown Five-Year Operating Plan FMD 7 (2013-2017) (Reg. 1740)
Proponent: Newfoundland and Labrador Forest Services
The proponent has submitted an amendment to their Five Year Operating Plan to allow access to 10,000 cubic metres of harvestable timber that was not identified in the Fire Year Operating Plan. The purpose of the amendment is to allow the harvest of an area of recently insect infested trees. The proposed harvest area has reached commercial viability and if not harvested soon will succumb to mortality. This amendment represents a conversion of an approved domestic operating area to allow for commercial activity. No new forest access roads will be required to access the area. The proposed amendment will not increase in Forest Management Districts 7 harvest level as harvesting will be reduced elsewhere in the district to balance this harvest. Operations will commence in the spring and continue through the 2014 operating season.
The undertaking was registered on January 30, 2014; the deadline for public comments is March 6, 2014; and the minister’s decision is due by March 16, 2014.
UNDERTAKING RELEASED:
Indian River-Springdale Branch Forage Farm (Reg. 1734)
Proponent: D and J Farms
The project is released subject to the following condition:
- A minimum 50-metre naturally vegetated buffer must be maintained along all waterbodies and wetlands to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat.
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:Deborah Thomas
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 728-8092
DeborahThomas@gov.nl.ca
2014 02 03 3:45 p.m.