Environment and Conservation
November 5, 2015
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.
UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:
Eddies Cove Oil Spill Detection/Testing Facility (Reg. 1819)
Proponent: Fugro GeoSurveys
The proponent is proposing to construct and operate a temporary research facility adjacent to Eddies Cove on the Northern Peninsula approximately 62 kilometres southwest of St.Anthony. The project, covering an area of approximately 1.9 hectares, will require the construction of a temporary, lined containment basin and will include a helicopter landing area and temporary trailers. Operation will include filling of the basin with seawater, development of a variety of ice conditions, injection of crude oil, and testing of the EFNMR system. Upon completion, the seawater will be treated and drained, and the containment basin decommissioned. Construction is scheduled for December 2015 and is anticipated to take three weeks. Flooding of the basin is expected to occur in January and full operations in March 2016.
The undertaking was registered on October 29, 2015; the deadline for public comments is December 10, 2015; and the minister's decision is due by December 12, 2015.
Harbour Grace Wharf, Dry Dock and Yard Extension (Reg. 1820)
Proponent: Harbour Grace Ocean Enterprises Ltd.
The proponent has submitted a proposal to convert an old fish plant facility located at Point of Beach in Harbour Grace into a modern wharf, laydown area and dry dock facility. The project will include upgrades to the wharf structure, construction of new floating dry dock, yard extension and dry dock construction. No new road construction or infrastructure upgrades are required for this project and it is anticipated that work will be done in three phases, beginning with wharf re-development and ending with dry-dock construction. Work is anticipated to begin once the environmental assessment process is complete.
The undertaking was registered on November 4, 2015; the deadline for public comments is December 10, 2015; and the minister's decision is due by December 19, 2015.
PLANS APPROVED:
Big Triangle Pond Mineral Exploration and Access Road (Reg. 1725)
Proponent: Eagleridge International Limited
On October 16, 2015 the Minister of Environment and Conservation approved the Environmental Protection Plan, the Environmental Effects and Monitoring Plan and the Rare Lichen Survey for the Big Triangle Pond Mineral Exploration and Access Road Project. The approval of these plans and the submission of the rare lichen report was a condition of release of the Project from further environmental assessment.
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
St. Lawrence AGS Vein Fluorspar Mine (Reg. 1794)
Proponent: Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc.
The Minister of Environment and Conservation following review of comments from the public and recommendation from the Assessment Committee has determined that the Environmental Preview Report (EPR) for the above project is considered satisfactory and the project is released from further environmental assessment review, subject to the following conditions which must be met prior to the start of construction:
- A Development Plan shall be submitted to the Minister of the Department of Natural Resources for approval. The Development Plan shall contain both a detailed tailings management plan and an acceptable engineering report detailing the acid generation and metal leaching of all ore, waste rock and tailings and the management of these materials based on the results. The Development Plan will be reviewed in consultation with the Department of Environment and Conservation.
- A Rehabilitation and Closure Plan that addresses long-term closure and chemical and physical stability site and eliminates any liability to the province shall be submitted to the Minister of Natural Resources for approval. The Rehabilitation and Closure Plan will be reviewed in consultation with the Department of Environment and Conservation.
- The Rehabilitation and Closure Plan shall demonstrate that the rehabilitated site will have minimal long-term maintenance and no discharge treatment requirements.
- An Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) and Environmental Effects Monitoring Program (EEMP) must be submitted to and approved by the Minister of Environment and Conservation.
Mobile Quarry and Access Road Project (Reg. 1807)
Proponent: Lawlor's Excavating Inc.
The project is released subject to the following condition:
- Where applicable, a minimum 50 metre naturally vegetated buffer shall 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, NLA1B 4J6
Public comments can be sent to EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca
Environmental assessment information is on the department website at: //www.gov.nl.ca/env
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Media contact:
| Emily Timmins
Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 693-1292 emilytimmins@gov.nl.ca |
2015 11 05 10:00 a.m.