Environment and Conservation
August 26, 2008

Environmental 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:

  1. 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;
     
  2. 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;
     
  3. 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.
     
  4. 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;
     
  5. 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;
     
  6. 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;
     
  7. 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;
     
  8. a Project Fisheries and Aquaculture Liaison Committee must be implemented with annual reporting to the Minister of Environment and Conservation;
     
  9. 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
     
  10. 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.


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