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:
Crown Forest Management Amendment Zone 5 (District 13) (Reg. 1949)
Proponent: Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
The proponent proposes an amendment to the Five Year Operating Plan for Forest Management Zone 5 (District 13) in the Victoria Lake area in southwest Newfoundland. The proposed amendment covers an area of approximately 185 hectares. The amendment is for one new domestic operating area for fuelwood for residents in the area of Burgeo and Ramea.
The undertaking was registered on March 1, 2018; the deadline for public comments is April 9, 2018; and the minister’s decision is due by April 15, 2018.
Happy Valley-Goose Bay Ex-Situ Soil Bioremediation Facility (Reg. 1948)
Proponent: Nordlys Environmental Limited Partnership
The proponent proposes to construct and operate a temporary ex-situ soil bioremediation facility on the South Branch Road, off Highway 520, 10 kilometres from the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay and within the Municipal Planning Area of the town. The facility is proposed in order to treat hydrocarbon impacted soils that have been excavated from the Survival Tank Farm (STF) site at Canadian Forces Base 5 Wing Goose Bay. Soils from the STF site are currently undergoing treatment at an approved treatment area on Base property but some soils may require additional biodegradation to remediate residual contamination. Construction activities include land clearing, establishing a perimeter access route, road grading and installation of a lined soil treatment pad. Construction of the project is proposed to begin in April 2018 with operations scheduled from October 2018 to December 2020.
The undertaking was registered on March 2, 2018; the deadline for public comments is April 9, 2018; and the minister’s decision is due by April 16, 2018.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT COMMITTEES APPOINTED:
Crémaillère Harbour Marine Port Development (Reg. 1933)
Proponent: Great Northern Port Inc.
On January 24, 2018 the minister advised the proponent that an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) is required for the project. An Environmental Assessment Committee (EAC) has been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to prepare guidelines for conducting the EPR. The EAC includes representation from the following provincial and federal government agencies:
- Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment
- Environmental Assessment Division – Committee Chairperson
- Pollution Prevention Division
- Local Governance and Planning Division
- Executive Council
- Women’s Policy Office
- Department of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
- Provincial Archaeology Office
- Department of Transportation and Works
- Highway Design and Construction
- Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
- Natural Areas Program
- Wildlife Division
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Fisheries Protection Program
- Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Environmental Protection Operations
Foxtrot Rare Earth Element Mine (Reg. 1936)
Proponent: Search Minerals Inc.
On January 25, 2018 the minister advised the proponent that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required for the project. An Environmental Assessment Committee (EAC) has been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to prepare draft guidelines for conducting the EIS. The EAC includes representation from the following provincial and federal government agencies:
- Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment
- Environmental Assessment Division – Committee Chairperson
- Water Resources Management Division
- Pollution Prevention Division
- Executive Council
- Women’s Policy Office
- Labrador Affairs Secretariat
- Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
- Policy and Strategic Planning Division
- Department of Natural Resources
- Mineral Development Division
- Department of Health and Community Services
- Public Health Division
- Department of Transportation and Works
- Highway Design and Construction – Labrador
- Intergovernmental and Indigenous Affairs Secretariat
- Indigenous Affairs Branch
- Health Canada
- Regulatory Operations and Regions Branch
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
Crown Zone 5 Five Year Forestry Operating Plan (2016-2020) Amendment
Proponent: Department of Fisheries and Land Resources (Reg.1938)
The project is released subject to the following condition:
- The proponent must maintain a minimum 30-metre naturally vegetated buffer along all watercourses, waterbodies and wetlands to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species and their habitat.
Flat Bay Gypsum Quarry (Reg. 1940)
Proponent: Red Moon Resources Inc.
The project is released subject to the following condition:
- If the proposed quarry operation uses water from a natural body of water or impacts the water quantity and/or quality of any body of water or stream then the proponent must submit a Water Resources Management Plan to the Water Resources Management Division prior to commencing any work. The plan must include the information requirements pursuant to the Water Resources Act, SNL2002 cW-4.01 including a description of all of the affected water bodies and streams and also discuss how these will be impacted by the quarry operation. Only after the plan has been approved can applications for a water use licence and/or a permit to alter a body of water be submitted.
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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
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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca