Environmental Assessment Bulletin

  • Municipal Affairs and Environment

January 31, 2018

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:
Labrador City Microbrewery (Reg.1944)Proponent: Iron Rock Brewing Company Ltd.

The proponent proposes to establish a microbrewery in Labrador City. The microbrewery is planned to be constructed in the lower level of an existing building (10 metres by 18 metres) at 211 Drake Avenue. The microbrewery will consist of a 120 litre brewhouse with a maximum annual production of 85 hectolitres. The beer produced will be sold by the keg to customers in the surrounding area.    

The undertaking was registered on January 30, 2018; the deadline for public comments is March 7, 2018; and the minister’s decision is due by March 16, 2018.

Mount Pearl Microbrewery (Reg. 1943)
Proponent: Landwash Brewery Inc.

The proponent proposes to establish and operate a 17.6 hectolitre capacity microbrewery at 181 Commonwealth Avenue, Mount Pearl. The microbrewery will be located in an existing building that will be renovated to house the brewery operation, taproom and retail area. Production is expected to begin in January 2019 and operate year-round.

The undertaking was registered on January 25, 2018; the deadline for public comments is March 7, 2018; and the minister’s decision is due by March 11, 2018.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT REQUIRED:

Labrador Foxtrot Rare Earth Element Mine (Reg. 1936)
Proponent: Search Minerals Inc.

The minister has advised the proponent that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required for this project. Additional project and baseline information requirements will have to address, but are not limited to: effluents, emissions and potential generation of radioactive materials; effects on surrounding water bodies and ground water, local water supply, wildlife and vegetation; details on all aspects of project infrastructure; and project scope, including consideration of power supply and port facilities. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to prepare draft guidelines for conducting the EIS. The public will be invited to provide comment on the draft guidelines. For further information on this project, contact Brent Keeping at (709) 729-4223 or email at bkeeping@gov.nl.ca

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORTS REQUIRED:

Crémaillère Harbour Marine Port Development (Reg. 1933)
Proponent: Great Northern Port Inc.

The minister has advised the proponent that an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) is required for this project. Additional information including, but not limited to: impacts of the project on marine life; and the numbers and distribution of other wildlife species; and activities and operations associated with the ballast wastewater / bilge disposal facility, the graving dock, and the bulk ore loading/offloading storage facility. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and guidance regarding the information requirements to the proponent. The minister will issue guidelines to the proponent to assist with the development of the EPR. For further information on this project, please contact John Reynolds at (709) 729-0090 or email at johnreynolds@gov.nl.ca.

Green Hills Quarry Reclamation and Rehabilitation
Proponent: J&E Enterprises Limited (Reg. 1934)

The minister has advised the proponent that an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) is required for this project. Additional information requirements will have to address, but are not limited to: on-site composting process; management of potential leachate; project planning; potential effects on the environment; and odour management. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to prepare guidelines for conducting the EPR. The public will be invited to provide comment on the EPR. For further information on this project, contact Brent Keeping at (709) 729-4223 or email at bkeeping@gov.nl.ca.

Baie Verte Tailings Management Facility Expansion, Ming Copper-Gold Mine
Proponent: Rambler Metals and Mining Canada Limited   (Reg. 1939

The minister has advised the proponent that an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) is required for this project. Additional information requirements will have to address, including, but not limited to: impacts on the watershed downstream from Camp Pond; classification of the tailings dam as per the Canadian Dam Association; instrumentation for monitoring the tailings dam and reservoir during the operational and closure phases; rehabilitation, closure and maintenance of the dam in perpetuity; and submission of a tailings storage facility alternatives study which addresses an approximate 20-year life of mine. An Environmental Assessment Committee will be appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister, and guidance regarding the information requirements to the proponent. The minister will issue guidelines to the proponent to assist with the development of the EPR. For further information on this project, please contact John Reynolds at (709) 729-0090 or email johnreynolds@gov.nl.ca.

ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE:

Placentia Bay Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Project (Reg. 1834)
Proponent: Grieg NL Nurseries Ltd. and Grieg NL Seafarms Ltd.

On November 8, 2017, the minister advised the proponent that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required for this project. A representative from the Salmonids Section, Science Branch of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and a representative from Transport Canada have recently been appointed to the previously established Environmental Assessment Committee. The committee now has representation from the following government agencies:

  • Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment
    • Environmental Assessment Division
    • Pollution Prevention Division
    • Water Resources Management Division
  • Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
    • Aquaculture Development Division
    • Aquatic Animal Health Division
    • Forestry and Wildlife Branch
  • Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
    • Tourism Product Development
  • Fisheries and Oceans Canada
    • Aquaculture Management Section
    • Salmonids Section
  • Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Health Canada
  • Transport Canada

 UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED: 

Buchan’s Plateau ATV Trails (Reg. 1911)
Proponent:  Plateau Outfitters Inc.

The project is released subject to the following conditions:

  • A minimum 50-metre naturally vegetated buffer must be maintained along all waterbodies and wetlands to protect sensitive wetland complexes as well as riparian and aquatic species and their habitat; and
  • An Environmental Protection Plan must be submitted for Trails #1 and #2 to provide more information identifying how these trails are to be constructed and maintained; the potential adverse impacts; mitigative measures to minimize impacts on the sensitive habitats and local wildlife in the area; and the long-term maintenance of these trails, as they are within areas identified as core caribou, rock ptarmigan, and arctic hare habitat.

The Old Trail Development, Eastport Peninsula (Reg.1937)
Proponent: The Town of Salvage and the Town of Sandy Cove

The undertaking is released subject to the following conditions:

  • The proponent must notify the Provincial Archaeology Office prior to any construction activities that require ground disturbance or to the placement of interpretive signage as part of the trail development, at or near the Matchim and Sandy Cove 1 sites at Sandy Cove and the Smokey Hole Beaches site near Keats Island;
  • The proponent must maintain a minimum 30-metre undisturbed naturally vegetated buffer along all waterbodies and wetlands to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species and their habitat; and
  • The proponent must avoid clearing activities during the breeding, nesting and rearing periods for migratory birds (April 15 to August 15 for landbirds and April 1 through August 30 for seabirds.

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Learn more

Environmental Assessment Division – toll-free at 1-800-563-6181 or by mail:

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: www.mae.gov.nl.ca/env_assessment/

Follow us on Twitter: @GovNL  and @MAE_GovNL 

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

2018 01 31 4:50 pm