Environment and Conservation
June 14, 2016

Environmental Assessment Bulletin

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

PLAN APPROVED:

Lower Churchill River Hydroelectric Generation Project         (Reg. 1305)
Proponent: Nalcor Energy

The Minister of Environment and Conservation following review of comments from government agencies and Aboriginal groups and consideration of the input of scientific experts at a March 22, 2016, workshop has approved the Human Health Risk Assessment Plan (HHRAP) as per the Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project Undertaking Order which completes the obligations of having an approved plan under Section 4.(e)(xiv)methylmercury, (xii) contaminant levels in country foods, and (xxii) human health. The acceptance of the HHRAP is subject to the following condition:

• Should downstream methylmercury monitoring identify the need for consumption advisories as a result of the project, Nalcor shall consult with relevant parties representing Lake Melville resource users. Based on the location of the consumption advisories these users could include Aboriginal Governments and organizations as well as other stakeholder groups. Following consultation, Nalcor shall provide reasonable and appropriate compensation measures to address the impact of the consumption advisory.

The minister is also releasing a summary of the scientific workshop on the HHRAP and methylmercury. Workshop participants included representatives of Environment and Conservation, Health and Community Services, Office of Public Engagement, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Health Canada, Nalcor Energy, Dillon Consulting, Reed Harris Environmental, with expertise in numerous fields including environmental health, food safety, ecological aquatic science, toxicology, health risk assessment, hydrology, environmental research, methylmercury modelling and fisheries.

The HHRAP and the report from the scientific workshop can be found on the department�s web site at: www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/env_assessment/projects/Y2010/1305/

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:

Public comments may be forwarded 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

2016 06 14                                                                                    4:35 p.m.