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REVISED PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) REGISTRATION FOR THE NEPISIGUIT FALLS GENERATING STATION MODIFICATION AND REHABILITATION PROJECT 1.7.2.1 Fisheries Act The Project may require an Authorization from the federal Minister of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) if, in the opinion of the Minister, the work would constitute a Harmful Alteration, Disruption or Destruction (HADD) of fish habitat under Section 35(2) of the Fisheries Act. In consideration of the nature and duration of the work and planned mitigation to minimize adverse environmental effects, the Minister may determine that an Authorization is not required, if it is concluded that a HADD to fish habitat is not likely. NB Power is requesting a letter of advice from DFO on whether this Project constitutes a HADD to fish habitat. If DFO determines that an Authorization under Section 35(2) is needed, an EA under CEAA would be required, and DFO would be a Responsible Authority. In the case that DFO determines that an EA under CEAA is required, NB Power is seeking an exemption to CEAA from DFO under the Exclusion List Regulations, Schedule 1(1). As the planned work will not change the historic generating capacity of the NFGS, and the physical structures in need of repair will be replaced or repaired with no change in function or capacity, the Project can be considered as “maintenance or repair of a physical work”, as defined under Schedule 1(1), which would exclude it from the requirement of an EA under CEAA. Regardless, an EA has been carried out in Chapter 4 of this document in the event that an EA is ultimately required. 1.7.2.2 Navigable Waters Protection Act The Nepisiguit River is considered navigable under the NWPA. NB Power submitted an application to the Navigable Waters Protection Program (NWPP) for approval of the Project on October 13, 2010. Approval of the Project was received from the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities pursuant to Subsection 10(2) of the NWPA. Since that time, NB Power has chosen a different means of carrying out the work (i.e., construction of the Coffer Dam rather than full dewatering of the headpond), that warrants re-application to the NWPP. No change to potential project interactions with navigation is anticipated as a result of this change to the preferred means of carrying out the Project. Approval under Section 10(2) of the NWPA does not require an environmental assessment under CEAA. June 15, 2011 Page 9
REVISED PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) REGISTRATION FOR THE NEPISIGUIT FALLS GENERATING STATION MODIFICATION AND REHABILITATION PROJECT 2.0 PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Project includes modification and rehabilitation of the existing NFGS, shown on Figure 2.1. This section describes the key aspects of the Project, as currently conceived, including: • a description of the Project components, including the likely infrastructure and components associated with the Project, and proposed mitigation for potential environmental effects; • a discussion of the activities that will be carried out during Construction, Operation, and eventual Decommissioning and Abandonment of the Project, as currently conceived by the Proponent following discussions with provincial and federal regulatory authorities on the best manner to achieve the required Project modifications with minimal environmental effects; • a discussion of alternative means of carrying out the Project; and • a brief overview of potential accidents, malfunctions, and unplanned events. Initial consideration of alternative means of carrying out the Project (Section 2.6) included options for working in the dry through the dewatering of the forebay and headpond. Although this was a feasible option, DFO has advised that the option for working in the dry by dewatering the headpond may be less desirable than installing a Coffer Dam without the dewatering. In consultation with DFO (December 20, 2010; March 28, 2011), NB Power has settled on the installation of a Coffer Dam within the forebay to create a dry work area for Construction as the preferred option. That work is described in this chapter. 2.1 PROJECT COMPONENTS AND ACTIVITIES Note: Where both imperial and metric measurements have been provided, imperial measurements will prevail. Metric conversions have been approximately converted for reference only; elevations in this report are related to a site datum that does not correspond precisely with sea level. To convert from the NB Power Nepisiguit Falls Datum to NB MSL Datum (NAD83), add 1.917 m (6.2899 ft). 2.1.1 Project Components The Project involves the following: • the refurbishment of the upstream face, crest, and downstream face of the spillway dam, which is at elevation 104.24 m (342 ft) to the top of the concrete; Page 10 June 15, 2011
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Spillway Concrete Repair Works Plan
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