The Honourable Bernard Davis, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.
UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:
Port au Port-Stephenville Wind Power and Hydrogen Generation Project (Project Nujio’qonik GH2)
Proponent: World Energy GH2 Inc. (Reg. 2202)
The proponent is proposing to construct and operate a maximum 1 gigawatt (GW), 164-turbine onshore wind farm on the Port au Port Peninsula with the associated transmission and supporting infrastructure to power a 0.5 GW hydrogen/ammonia production facility in the port of Stephenville. A description of the project will be can be found on the Department’s web page at: www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/projects-list/
The undertaking was registered on June 21, 2022; the deadline for public comments is July 27, 2022; and, the minister’s decision is due by August 5, 2022.
REQUEST TO AMEND MINISTER’S DECISION:
Exploits River Geodesic Domes (Reg. 2189)
Proponent: Red Indian Adventures Ltd.
The above undertaking was released from further environmental assessment on April 27, 2022. The proponent has requested an amendment to the release decision. The request document can be viewed on the department’s website at www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/projects/project-2189/. Public comments can be directed to Eric Watton, Environmental Scientist, Department of Environment and Climate Change, by email at ericwatton@gov.nl.ca. The deadline for public comments is July 6, 2022, and, the minister’s decision is due by July 12, 2022.
UNDERTAKINGS RELEASED:
Barr’d Harbour Breakwater (Reg. 2196)
Proponent: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Small Craft Harbours
The project is released subject to the following conditions:
- The proponent is required to uphold all commitments made in the environmental assessment submissions to mitigate the effects of the project on the environment.
- The proponent is required to update the Environmental Assessment Division on the status of the project, including a copy of all permits, licences, certificates, approvals and other authorizations required by law for the project, within one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates, if requested. Project updates should be emailed to EAProjectComments@gov.nl.ca.
Hampden By-road (Reg. 2197)
Proponent: Town of Hampden
The project is released subject to the following conditions:
- The proponent is required to uphold all commitments made in the environmental assessment submissions to mitigate the effects of the project on the environment.
- The Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture requires the following:
- The proponent is required to maintain a minimum 50-metre naturally vegetated buffer along the Hampden River to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species and their habitat from upland activities. For other waterbodies, with exception of the installation of the bridge:
- For slopes less than 30 percent, a minimum 30-metre naturally vegetated riparian buffer zone shall be established around all waterbodies, from the high water mark, that are identified on 1:50,000 scale National Topographic System maps or the topographic mapping layer shown in the Provincial Land Use Atlas. No land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities shall take place in this zone.
- For slopes greater than 30 percent, there shall be a naturally vegetated riparian buffer zone calculated using the following formula: 30 metres + 1.5 metres x slope (%). No land use activities involving grubbing, ground or soil disturbance, or timber harvesting activities shall take place in this zone.
- 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 Wildlife Division. For further information, contact the Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture at 709-637-2353.
- The proponent is required to maintain a minimum 50-metre naturally vegetated buffer along the Hampden River to protect sensitive riparian and aquatic species and their habitat from upland activities. For other waterbodies, with exception of the installation of the bridge:
- The proponent must request permission from the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs to acquire real property not related to the operations of council, as required under Section 201 of the Municipalities Act. For further information, please contact the Manager of Legislation, Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs at 709-729-5473.
- The proponent is required to 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 EAProiectComments@qov.nl.ca.
- The proponent is required to update the Environmental Assessment Division on the status of the Project, including a copy of all permits, licenses, certificates, approvals and other authorizations required for the Project, one year from the date of this release letter and to provide additional updates if required. Please email project updates to EAProiectComments@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
Public comments may be forwarded to: EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca
Environmental assessment information is available at:
www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/env-assessment/
www.gov.nl.ca/ecc/files/GUIDE-TO-THE-PROCESS_May-2022.pdf
If you submit comments on a project that is under environmental assessment, please advise the Department if you DO NOT wish to share your comments with the project proponent.
Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Environment and Climate Change
709-729-5449; 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca