Municipal Affairs and Environment
November 9, 2017

The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment:

Minister Joyce Comments on Initiating the Requirement for an Environmental Impact Statement for the Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador remains committed to ensuring that development proceeds in an environmentally-sustainable manner; therefore, I am initiating an Environmental Impact Statement for the Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project.

Officials of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment have met with Grieg NL Nurseries Ltd. and Grieg NL Seafarms Ltd. to discuss regulatory requirements, the next steps in the environmental assessment process, and their plans for addressing requirements under the environmental assessment process.

The Environmental Impact Statement process will require the proponent to describe in additional detail the proposed undertaking, and then address issues brought forward during the environmental assessment review of the project, explain mitigative options and regulatory oversight, and describe monitoring programs.

The July 21, 2017, decision of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador to overturn the release of the project from environment assessment has implications that go well beyond the Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project. The Court of Appeal will review that decision, and the outcome may have implications for the future interpretation of the Environmental Protection Act.

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

 

2017 11 09                                                    12:35 p.m.