Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) Registration for the ...

REVISED PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) REGISTRATION
FOR THE NEPISIGUIT FALLS GENERATING STATION MODIFICATION AND REHABILITATION PROJECT
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ASSESSMENT
4.1 METHODOLOGY
To determine the potential for interactions between the Project and the environment, a
qualitative rating system is employed. The interactions between the Project and each Valued
Environmental Component (VEC) are ranked based on the following rating system, according to
the professional judgment and experience of the study team.
0 = No interaction. The environmental effects are not significant and are not considered
further in this report.
1 = Interaction occurs, however, based on past experience and professional judgment the
interaction would not result in a significant environmental effect, even without mitigation;
or interaction would not be significant due to application of codified environmental
protection practices that are known to effectively mitigate the predicted environmental
effects. The environmental effects are not significant and are not considered further in
this report.
2 = Interaction could result in an environmental effect of concern even with mitigation; the
potential environmental effects are considered further in this report.
Where a potential Project-VEC interaction (i.e., a ranking of 2) is identified through the
qualitative rating system, further discussion of the potential interaction is provided in the
subsequent section. However, where no interaction or no substantive interaction is identified
(i.e., a ranking of 0 or 1), the rationale of why no interaction exists, or why a limited interaction
can be adequately mitigated without resulting in significant environmental effects, is provided,
but the environmental effects are considered not significant and are not discussed further in this
report.
The evaluation is provided in tabular form for ease in evaluation and communication.
4.2 POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS OF THE PROJECT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT
4.2.1 Project-Environment Interaction Matrix
Based on the Project Description and the methodology described briefly above, the potential
interactions between the Project and the environment are summarized in Table 4.1.
June 15, 2011 Page 33