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
3.5.2 Rare Plants .........................................................................................................29
3.6 WETLAND ENVIRONMENT.............................................................................................30
3.7 LAND USE AND ECONOMY............................................................................................30
3.8 HERITAGE RESOURCES ...............................................................................................31
3.9 ABORIGINAL LAND AND RESOURCE USE ...................................................................31
3.10 ROAD TRANSPORTATION .............................................................................................32
4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ASSESSMENT .................................................................33
4.1 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................33
4.2 POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS OF THE PROJECT WITH THE ENVIRONMENT ..............33
4.2.1 Project-Environment Interaction Matrix ................................................................33
4.2.2 VECS with No Interaction, or No Significant Interaction with the Project ..............34
4.2.2.1 Atmospheric Environment ...............................................................................35
4.2.2.2 Water Resources ............................................................................................36
4.2.2.3 Terrestrial Environment ...................................................................................37
4.2.2.4 Wetland Environment ......................................................................................39
4.2.2.5 Land Use and Economy ..................................................................................39
4.2.2.6 Heritage Resources ........................................................................................40
4.2.2.7 Current Use of Land and Resources for Traditional Purposes by Aboriginal
Persons ...........................................................................................................41
4.2.2.8 Road Transportation .......................................................................................42
4.2.2.9 Effects of the Environment on the Project .......................................................43
4.2.3 VECs Which May Result in an Interaction with the Project that Requires Further
Evaluation ...........................................................................................................44
4.3 AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT ..............................................................................................44
4.3.1 Scope of Assessment ..........................................................................................44
4.3.1.1 Rationale for Selection of Valued Environmental Component and Regulatory
Context ...........................................................................................................45
4.3.1.2 Selection of Environmental Effects and Measurable Parameters ....................45
4.3.1.3 Temporal Boundaries ......................................................................................46
4.3.1.4 Spatial Boundaries ..........................................................................................47
4.3.1.5 Administrative and Technical Boundaries ........................................................47
4.3.1.6 Residual Environmental Effects Rating Criteria ...............................................48
4.3.2 Existing Aquatic Environment ..............................................................................48
4.3.3 Potential Project-VEC Interactions ......................................................................50
4.3.4 Assessment of Project-Related Environmental Effects ........................................52
4.3.5 Assessment of Cumulative Environmental Effects ...............................................62
4.3.6 Determination of Significance ..............................................................................62
4.3.7 Follow-up and Monitoring ....................................................................................63
4.4 ACCIDENTS, MALFUNCTIONS, AND UNPLANNED EVENTS .......................................63
4.4.1 Methodology ........................................................................................................63
4.4.2 Identification of Accidents, Malfunctions, and Unplanned Events ........................64
4.4.3 Environmental Effects Assessment .....................................................................65
4.4.3.1 Loss of Containment .......................................................................................66
4.4.3.2 Failure of the Coffer Dam ................................................................................67
4.4.3.3 Hazardous Material Spills ...............................................................................68
4.4.3.4 Erosion and Sediment Control Failure .............................................................69
4.4.3.5 Fire .................................................................................................................70
Page ii June 15, 2011