Municipal Affairs and Environment
March 24, 2017

EnviEnvironmental Assessment Bulletin

The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:

Portugal Cove Road Quarry                     (Reg.1882)
Proponent: Pyramid Construction Ltd.

The proponent proposes to build a 10.9 hectare quarry for gravel and rock adjacent to their existing quarry operations located north of Portugal Cove Road in St. John’s. The proposed quarry is located approximately 700 metres west of the intersection of Portugal Cove Road and Airport Heights Drive. Operation of the quarry will be from May to November each year.

The The undertaking was registered on March 15, 2017; the deadline for public comments is April 28, 2017; and the minister’s decision is due by April 29, 2017.

Cartwright Suborbital Flight Range          (Reg. 1883)
Proponent: Starfire Scientific Inc.

The proponent proposes to test a cannon for high altitude suborbital space launches near Cartwright, Labrador. The proposed staging area for the mobile artillery cannon is located approximately 8.5 kilometres south of the community of Cartwright. The downrange safety zone would require a 15 kilometre square area for the firing range to test the launch system. Up to five test series is planned in the summer of 2017 for the gun propulsion launch system.

The The undertaking was registered on March 16, 2017; the deadline for public comments is April 28, 2017; and the minister’s decision is due by April 30, 2017.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Howse Direct Shipping Ore Mine              (Reg. 1751)
Proponent: Howse Minerals Limited

The Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment 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:

• The Direct Shipping Ore Project Newfoundland and Labrador Benefits Plan must be updated to include the Howse DSO Project. The update must be done in consultation with the Department of Natural Resources and meet the approval of the Minister of Natural Resources prior to the start of construction.
• A Gender Equity and Diversity Plan for the Howse DSO Project must be approved by the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and the Minster of Natural Resources prior to the start of construction.
• Howse Minerals Limited will be required to consult with Indigenous governments and organizations according to the Aboriginal Consultation Guidelines developed by Intergovernmental and Indigenous Affairs Secretariat for the project. All permits for the project must be processed according to these guidelines.
• An updated Environmental Preview Report document and concordance table must be provided to the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment that incorporates any new project information resulting from the federal environmental assessment process prior to the start of construction.
• The The Forestry and Wildlife Branch of the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources must be contacted to discuss appropriate action prior to initiating any deterrents to move caribou away from the project area.

Baie Verte Area, Stog’er Tight Goldmine - West Pit Expansion         (Reg. 1860)
Proponent: Anaconda Mining Inc.

The project is released subject to the following conditions:

• An environmental protection plan (EPP) shall be prepared and submitted to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment for all applicable construction, operation and maintenance activities. The EPP must be approved before the start of any site specific construction. The EPP shall describe the environmental protection and mitigation measures that will be applied throughout the life of the project to avoid or minimize potential negative effects on the environment associated with the project.
• The Mines Branch of the Department of Natural Resources requires amendments to the current development plan, the rehabilitation and closure plan and associated financial assurance for the proposed expansion to the existing project. These plans must be submitted and approved prior to the start of construction.
• A women’s employment plan must be submitted and approved by the Deputy Minister Responsible for the Women’s Policy Office prior to the start of any work on the project.
• The The proponent must apply for and obtain a water use licence under the Water Resources Act, 2002 for the use, removal and/or displacement of water from any body of water (including wetland) for any purpose prior to the start of this project.
• The proponent must apply for and obtain a permit under the Water Resources Act, 2002, specifically Section 48 for any work including, but is not limited to, culverts, temporary dyke (classified as a dam), settling ponds (may be classified as a dam) or other works in any body of water (including wetland) along with the need for a site drainage and monitoring plan prior to the start of construction.
• The proponent must apply for and obtain a permit for constructing a non-domestic well under the Water Resources Act, 2002, specifically Section 58 for drilled well(s) for any dewatering along with the need for monitoring prior to the start of construction.
• The proponent will be required to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Water Resources Management Division (WRMD) of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment, for the installation of a real time water quality/quantity network. This network will provide near real-time monitoring data on the flows and water quality resulting from the proposed mining activities. This network will ensure emerging issues (from the construction, operational and closure phases) are caught and mitigative measures implemented in a timely manner. The type, number and locations of the stations required will depend on site conditions and final operation plans and will be determined collaboratively between the proponent and WRMD. The proponent is required to bear all costs associated with the monitoring network and must install the required network prior to the start of construction. Future environmental assessment submissions must reference this monitoring network.

Roaches Line Agriculture Development            (Reg. 1876)
Proponent: NL Cattle Company Limited.

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.

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For For further information on the environmental assessment process, please contact the Environmental Assessment Division toll-free at 1-800-563-6181 or by mail:
        Environmental Assessment Division
        Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment
        West Block, Confederation Building
        P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, NL A1B 4J6

Public comments may be forwarded to EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca
Environmental assessment information is on the department’s website at:
www.gov.nl.ca/env.

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL and @MAE_GovNL

Media contact:

Lynn Robinson Municipal Affairs and Environment 709-709-729-5449, 691-9466 lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2017 03 24                              4:15 p.m.