Environment and Conservation
August 26, 2008Environmental
Assessment Bulletin
The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of
Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events
relative to Part 10
Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
Long Harbour Commercial Nickel Processing Plant
Proponent: Vale Inco Newfoundland & Labrador Limited
(Reg. 1243)
On August 26, 2008 the Minister of
Environment and Conservation, Charlene Johnson, informed
Vale Inco Newfoundland & Labrador
Limited that, under authority of
Section 67(3) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act SNL
2002, cE-14.2, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council has released
the Long Harbour Commercial Nickel Processing Plant Project from further
environmental assessment, subject to the 10
following terms and conditions:
- the proponent is to prepare an
Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) and submit it to the
Minister of Environment and Conservation for the minister�s
approval prior to the start of construction;
- the proponent is to prepare a Women�s
Employment Plan (WEP) acceptable to both the Minister
Responsible for the Status of Women and the Minister of
Environment and Conservation and submit it prior to the
start of construction and no later than October 15, 2008;
the
proponent shall, in accordance with Section 84 of the Environmental Protection Act, supply and maintain,
financial or other security to cover the predicted cost of
rehabilitation work in the event of default on this
responsibility by the proponent or any subsequent property
owner that would have or share the responsibility for
perpetual care associated with the facility. This
amount will be determined, supplied, and revised in a manner
consistent with Section 10 of the Mining Act.
- the proponent is to
prepare an Environmental Emergencies Contingency Plan to be
approved by the Minister of Environment and Conservation
prior to construction and amended by the proponent and
re-submitted for approval as necessary from time to time;
- the proponent is to prepare an
Environmental Effects Monitoring Plan (EEMP), with annual
reporting to the Minister of Environment and Conservation
and submit it for the minister�s approval prior to the start
of construction;
the
proponent is to hire or assign prior to construction, and
keep staffed, environmental monitors sufficient for the job
to serve for the life of the project as a first line of
contact for government officials at the site;
- the proponent must
develop a Fisheries and Aquaculture Compensation Program by
March 31, 2009 for approval by the Minister of Environment
and Conservation, and apply it to any fisher or aquaculture
operator who experiences (and can demonstrate) economic loss
as a result of any phase of this project;
- a Project Fisheries and
Aquaculture Liaison Committee must be implemented with
annual reporting to the Minister of Environment and
Conservation;
- the proponent must
convene in Long Harbour at least quarterly, and chair, a
Community Liaison Committee involving all interested
provincial departments/agencies and stakeholder groups (to
have Terms of Reference patterned after the Community
Liaison Committee for the Argentia Demonstration Plant such
that both the proponent and the community will have
representatives from both genders and the committee will
strive for gender equity); and
- the proponent is to
implement the mitigation measures, monitoring, and follow-up
commitments contained in the Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) submitted April 14, 2008.
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 available at
//www.gov.nl.ca/env .
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Media contact:
Melony O�Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575; 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca
2008 08 26 9:00 a.m. |