Environment and Conservation
October 14, 2014

Environmental Assessment Bulletin

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Belleoram Crushed Rock Export Quarry
Proponent: Continental Stone Limited             (Reg. 1767)

Continental Stone Limited proposes to develop a granite aggregate export quarry on a site approximately 79 hectares in area, one kilometre north of Belleoram in Belle Bay. The primary physical features will include a quarry, a marine wharf and a new access road. Rock will be quarried and crushed on site, loaded onto ships via a conveyor belt and shipped to market. It is estimated that two million tonnes of aggregate will be shipped in the first year of operation. The proposed quarry was released from Environmental Assessment in 2007, however construction did not begin during the time frame permitted by the Environmental Assessment Regulations and the project has been re-registered, as required.

The undertaking was registered on October 14, 2014; the deadline for public comments is November 18, 2014; and the minister’s decision is due by November 28, 2014.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

Big Triangle Pond Mineral Exploration Access Road
Proponent: Eagleridge International Limited             (Reg. 1725)

The project is released subject to the following conditions:

  • Eagleridge International Ltd. shall be responsible for the decommissioning of all access roads associated with this proposal and, prior to the commencement of construction activities, shall provide a guarantee or other security satisfactory to the Minister of Environment and Conservation, in the form required by the Minister of Environment and Conservation, in an amount equivalent to the cost of decommissioning the roads;
  • Eagleridge International Ltd. is required to conduct a survey in the area of the proposed road and planned mineral exploration activities for Erioderma species, as well as other lichens of conservation concern and submit this survey to the Wildlife Division, prior to the commencement of construction activities. The Wildlife Division should be consulted in order to obtain a list of potential experts experienced in identifying these species as well as to discuss appropriate survey protocols.
  • Eagleridge International Ltd. is required to submit to the NL Department of Environment and Conservation a project-specific Environmental Protection Plan (EPP), prepared in consultation with the NL Department of Environment and Conservation. The EPP should focus on a road decommissioning and rehabilitation plan and on mitigation measures to be considered to reduce impacts, through the life of the project, on aquatic ecosystems and aquatic species, on wildlife (including raptors, other birds and small mammals), on woodland caribou and on lichen species of conservation concern. The EPP must consider impacts from road construction, operation and decommissioning as well as impacts from foreseeable mineral exploration activities, including, but not limited to line cutting, trenching, drilling and bulk sampling. The EPP must be developed by Eagleridge International Ltd. and approved by the Minister of Environment and Conservation prior to the commencement of construction activities.
  • Eagleridge International Ltd. shall prepare Environmental Effects Monitoring Plans (EEMs), in consultation with the applicable Government divisions, and submit them to the Minister of Environment and Conservation, and receive the Minister’s approval for the EEMs, prior to the start of construction. The EEMs will cover the following valued ecosystem components (VECs) and will be developed to monitor effects as a result of the project and to ensure that any changes to existing baseline as a result of project effects are documented and mitigated against:
    • Woodland caribou;
    • Aquatic ecosystems (including headwaters of Salmonier River) and aquatic species;
    • Lichen species (Erioderma pedicellatum, Erioderma mollissimum, and other lichen species of conservation concern).
  • The manager of Salmonier Nature Park must be contacted prior to any blasting activities and prior to any other construction or exploration activities taking place within five kilometres of Salmonier Nature Park.
  • Public access to the road must be restricted through the use of a locked gate, either with the approval of the Minister of Transportation and Works if the gate is installed inside the TCH right-of-way or with the approval of the Minister of Environment and Conservation if installed outside the right-of-way.

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 10 14                                        4:40 p.m.

 

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