Environmental Review of the proposed New Nain Airport

August 12, 2024

The Nunatsiavut Government is advancing in the environmental review of the New Nain Airport Project. Following the end of the initial consultation period this winter, the Nunatsiavut Assembly referred the project to its environmental review committee and appointed new members for this assessment.

In addition to the Committee’s chair, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Terry Vincent, other members include Language, Culture and Tourism Minister David Dicker, Nain AngajukKâk Joe Dicker, and Duane Metcalfe as a representative of Nain hunters/harvesters.

Taking into account the ministerial recommendation tabled to the Assembly and results from consultations, the committee officially determined that the proponent should be required to provide more information about the project, expected impacts and potential mitigation measures, through an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

As such, the committee will now work on drafting the guidelines for this EIS outlining the information that the proponent needs to provide so that the committee and Nunatsiavummiut may make an informed decision about the project.

A draft of these guidelines will be published and submitted to a public comment period before being finalized.

If you would like more information about the project or the review itself, you can find the project description as well as a summary in English and Inuktitut on the Nunatsiavut environmental review registry, along with records of written comments and committee decisions. The registry is available at this address http://bit.ly/Nain-Airport

Information centres, where printed copies of the documents will be available, are being set up in every Labrador Inuit community. A joint e-mail address has also been set up to reach the committee: reviewcommittee-newnainairport@nunatsiavut.com

While the public comment period on the draft EIS guidelines is not yet ongoing, comments received at any time will still be considered for the review, and those received in writing will be posted on the environmental review registry.

Led by the Nunatsiavut Government, the project would involve the construction of a new certified airport to replace the existing airstrip for Nain and the road to access it. The proposed new airport would

be located southwest of the community, between Kauk Brook and Salt Water Pond. It would be able to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Committee contact:

reviewcommittee-newnainairport@nunatsiavut.com

Proponent contact:

Colin Gilbride, P.Eng.
Director of Infrastructure and Planning, Nunatsiavut Government
Address: P.O. Box 92, Makkovik, NL A0P 1J0
Telephone: Office (709) 923-2007 Mobile (709) 899-0935
E-mail: colin.gilbride@nunatsiavut.com

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