The Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:

Northeast River Placentia Fishway Reconstruction                       (Reg. 2031)
Proponent: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

The project is released subject to the following conditions:

• No vegetation clearing is to occur within 800 metres of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) and 200 metres during the remainder of the year. The 200-metre buffer also applies to all other raptor nests (e.g. Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl). The location of any raptor nest site must be reported to the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, Wildlife Division, at 709-637-2025.
• A minimum 30-metre, undisturbed, vegetated buffer is to be maintained along all waterbodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topographic map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat. For further information, please contact the Wildlife Division at 709-637-2025. 

Grand Falls-Windsor Zip Line and Trails        (Reg. 2041)
Proponent: Town of Grand Falls-Windsor

The project is released subject to the following conditions:

• The proponent and/or operator are not to restrict forestry activities in the areas adjacent to the proposal.

• No vegetation clearing is to occur within 800 metres of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) and 200 metres during the remainder of the year. The 200-metre buffer also applies to all other raptor nests (e.g. Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl). The location of any raptor nest site must be reported to the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, Wildlife Division. For further information, please contact the Wildlife Division at (709) 637-2025.

• The Forestry and Wildlife Branch, Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, requires a minimum 50-metre naturally vegetated buffer to be maintained along the Exploits River and a 30-metre buffer along wetlands, streams and waterbodies that appear on a 1:50,000 topographic map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat.

• There are a number of rare plants located within the proposed footprint of this development (see map at www.mae.gov.nl.ca/env_assessment/projects/Y2019/2041/index.html). The Forestry and Wildlife Branch requires that if any development is to take place within these areas, the proponent must contact the Wildlife Division prior to commencing work to ensure that proper surveys and/or mitigations are put in place. The Forestry and Wildlife Branch requires that if the proponent wishes to do any development, such as the installation of walking trails or zip line towers, within the required 30-metre buffer along wetlands/waterbodies or within the 50-metre buffer along the Exploits River, then a detailed project development design must be submitted and approved by the Wildlife Division. The project development design must clearly show where the development is proposed and how the integrity of the buffer will be maintained.
• The proponent is required to hire an archaeologist to conduct a Historic Resource Impact Assessment. Such assessment will include an archaeological survey of selected areas within the development area to determine what, if any, historic resources are present, and to undertake any mitigative measures to the satisfaction of the Provincial Archaeology Office. For further information please contact (709) 729-2462.

St. Anthony Gravel Quarry                                                                      (Reg. 2044)
Proponent: Strangemore Electrical Services Ltd.

The project is released subject to the following conditions:

• No vegetation clearing is to occur within 800 metres of a bald eagle or osprey nest during the nesting season (March 15 to July 31) and 200 metres during the remainder of the year. The 200-metre buffer also applies to all other raptor nests (e.g. Northern Goshawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, Great-horned Owl, Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl). The location of any raptor nest site must be reported to the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, Wildlife Division.

• A minimum 30-metre undisturbed vegetated buffer is required along all waterbodies and wetlands that appear on a 1:50,000 topographic map to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species, and their habitat. For further information on buffers, please contact the Department of Fisheries and Land Resources, Wildlife Division, at (709) 637-2025.

• In addition, the St. Anthony Development Regulations state that a mineral working must be located a minimum of 50 metres from a waterbody or watercourse. For further information on the St. Anthony Development Regulations, please contact the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment, Local Governance and Land Use Planning Division at (709) 729-1953.

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
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca