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
Further information on the justification for the 0 or 1 rankings is provided for each VEC below.
4.2.2.1 Atmospheric Environment
The Atmospheric Environment is characterized by Air Quality (ambient air quality and air
contaminant emissions) and Sound Quality.
Operation has been ranked as 0 in Table 4.1 because there is no interaction between this
phase of the Project and the Atmospheric Environment under normal operating conditions.
Emissions to the atmosphere (i.e., dust, emissions from combustion engines, and sound) during
Operation will be returned to pre-Project conditions which were established in 1921 when the
NFGS was constructed and will be relative and typical of the area (e.g., water falling over the
dam).
Construction and Decommissioning and Abandonment have been ranked as 1 in Table 4.1 due
to the potential change in Air Quality and Sound Quality which would occur during these phases
of the Project. During Construction and Decommissioning and Abandonment, emissions of air
contaminants to the environment may occur primarily from the operation of construction
equipment associated with the Project (e.g., emissions from the combustion of fuel and dust).
Particulate matter emissions may be associated with earth moving activities.
Emissions generated during Construction are expected to be relatively low, at times intermittent,
and of short duration (limited to the construction period June 1 through September 30, 2012).
Overall emissions from heavy equipment during construction activities are not expected to
exceed ambient air quality standards for New Brunswick. Equipment will be maintained in good
working order to ensure that emissions are within manufacturer’s performance specifications.
The emission of particulate matter (i.e., dust) during Construction would be primarily restricted
to the PDA where heavy machinery will be mobile. Dust will be managed effectively in dry
periods using standard dust suppression best management practices (e.g., water) on the
exposed earth in the PDA including the access road and parking lot adjacent to the NFGS.
Emissions from the Project will be short term, intermittent over the 4-month construction period,
and will not have any substantive interactions with Air Quality.
Construction will involve the use of some heavy equipment. No blasting or pile driving is
required for this Project, although some drilling may be necessary for the installation of dowels,
post-tension anchors, and rebar in the spillway dam.
Increased Sound Quality from the Project is anticipated to be relatively low and typical of a
construction site (e.g., backup alarms on heavy machinery, increased traffic, and heavy
machinery engines). Heavy equipment (e.g., trucks, backhoes and other equipment) required
for Construction will be equipped with mufflers and be maintained in good working order to
reduce unnecessary sound emission. Though sound emissions may be heard during
Construction at residential properties within the LAA, Construction has been scheduled during
daytime hours and over a relatively short 4-month construction period. In the event that an
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