Environmental Assessment Bulletin

September 29, 2023

The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKINGS REGISTERED:
Deer Lake Tailrace Bridge Geotechnical Work                                 (Reg. 2271)
Proponent: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

The Proponent is proposing to complete a geotechnical investigation required for the replacement of the Deer Lake tailrace bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway in the Town of Deer Lake. Project activities would include drilling boreholes in the water and on land to determine subsurface soil and rock conditions at the site to provide recommendations for foundation design for the new abutments and spanning piers. A description of the project can be found on the department’s webpage at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on September 28, 2023; the deadline for public comment is November 3, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by November 12, 2023.

Flat Bay Brook Outfitters Lodge                                                           (Reg. 2270)
Proponent: Mountain Top Cabin Ltd.

The Proponent is proposing to construct an outfitter lodge to accommodate clients with guided moose hunts. The site is located approximately 12 kilometres southeast of St. Georges on a gravel road known as Steel Mountain Road. The lodge would include an in-ground septic system and drilled water well. A description of the project can be found on the department’s project web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/.

The undertaking was registered on September 28, 2023; the deadline for public comment is November 3, 2023; and the minister’s decision is due by November 12, 2023.

ENVIRONMENTAL PREVIEW REPORT GUIDELINES ISSUED:

White Hill Pond JCL Quarry                                                                    (Reg. 2246)
Proponent: JCL Investments Inc.

The minister has approved the final guidelines for the preparation of the environmental preview report (EPR) for the White Hill Pond JCL Quarry. The EPR guidelines identify the information that the Proponent is required to include in the EPR. The EPR guidelines document is available on the department’s project web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2246/

PLANS ACCEPTED:
Labrador – L1301 Transmission Line Decommissioning               (Reg. 2236)
Proponent: Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

On September 27, 2023, the minister advised the Proponent that the Waste Management Plan (WMP) and Caribou Protection and Impacts Mitigation Plan (CPIMP) for the Labrador – L1301 Transmission Line Decommissioning project were reviewed and found to be acceptable. The WMP and CPIMP were required by conditions of release from environmental assessment and are available on the department’s project web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2236/.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

Windmill Bight Bridge Replacements                                                 (Reg. 2263)
Proponent: Department of Transportation and Infrastructure

The project is released from environmental assessment subject to the following conditions:

• The Proponent must uphold all commitments made in the environmental assessment submission to mitigate the effects of the project on the environment.
• The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture (FFA) requires the following:
  • The registration document indicates that the Proponent will require the contractor(s) to submit a Contractor Environmental Mitigation Plan to the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure for approval. FFA requires that the Contractor Environmental Mitigation Plan must also be submitted to its Wildlife Division for approval, prior to the start of project construction.
• The Proponent must advise the Environmental Assessment Division when the conditions of release have been met, by emailing a written description, documents, and images (where applicable) to demonstrate that the conditions have been fulfilled to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.
• The Proponent must update the Environmental Assessment Division on the status of the project, including a copy of all  permits, licences, certificates, approvals and other authorizations required for the project, within one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates if required. Please email the project updates to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.

Learn more
Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Climate Change
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL A1B 4J6

Environmental assessment information is available at:

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/

www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_September-2023.pdf

Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @ECC_GovNL

Project comments may be forwarded to: EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca

Anyone submitting comments on a project under environmental assessment is asked to please advise the Department if they DO NOT wish to have their comments shared with the Project Proponent.

NT4