Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) Registration for the ...
Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) Registration for the ...
Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) Registration for the ...
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REVISED PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (<strong>EIA</strong>) REGISTRATION<br />
FOR THE NEPISIGUIT FALLS GENERATING STATION MODIFICATION AND REHABILITATION PROJECT<br />
June, and fish that are kept tend to be large (into <strong>the</strong> 2 kg range, R. Baker, L. Gagnon and<br />
R. Lavigne, pers. comm. 2010). A trout stocking program was undertaken upstream of <strong>the</strong><br />
NFGS in <strong>the</strong> 1990’s, but very little has been done since <strong>the</strong>n (R. Baker, pers. comm. 2011).<br />
Mr. Baker (President of <strong>the</strong> Nepisiguit Salmon Association, NSA) reported that it is unlikely that<br />
trout use <strong>the</strong> headpond during <strong>the</strong> summer, and that <strong>the</strong>re is likely limited use by o<strong>the</strong>r fish<br />
species during <strong>the</strong> summer, as <strong>the</strong>re is much better feeding habitat upstream.<br />
The NSA Newsletter <strong>for</strong> January 2010 (NSA 2010) reports that NB Power became a sponsoring<br />
partner <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> stocking portion of its salmon enhancement program (working in <strong>the</strong> river below<br />
<strong>the</strong> NFGS) in 2009. O<strong>the</strong>r sponsors of salmon enhancement activities include (but are not<br />
necessarily limited to) <strong>the</strong> Wildlife Trust Fund, Dieppe Fly Tying Club, Xstrata Zinc – Brunswick<br />
Mine, Atlantic Salmon Conservation Fund, and ACOA (NSA 2010). The NSA released 42,104<br />
fry to <strong>the</strong> Nepisiguit River below <strong>the</strong> falls in 2009 (<strong>the</strong> 23’rd consecutive year in which such<br />
releases have been made, and <strong>the</strong> 21’st consecutive year in which incubation took place at <strong>the</strong><br />
hydroelectric facility at Nepisiguit Falls, NSA 2010). Adult returns to <strong>the</strong> river were<br />
approximately 3,000 fish (1,500 grilse and 1,500 salmon) in 2009. Spawning escapement was<br />
estimated at 8.5 million eggs (NSA 2010).<br />
4.3.3 Potential Project-VEC Interactions<br />
Table 4.3 below lists each Project activity and physical work <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Project, and ranks each<br />
interaction as 0, 1, or 2. These rankings are defined in Table 4.3 and are indicative of <strong>the</strong> level<br />
of interaction each activity or physical work will have with <strong>the</strong> Aquatic Environment.<br />
Table 4.3<br />
Potential Project <strong>Environmental</strong> Effects to <strong>the</strong> Aquatic Environment<br />
Potential <strong>Environmental</strong> Effect<br />
Project Activities and Physical Works<br />
Change in Aquatic Environment<br />
Construction<br />
Installation of <strong>the</strong> Coffer Dam 2<br />
Installation of <strong>the</strong> Working Plat<strong>for</strong>m 2<br />
Concrete Demolition and Surface Repair 1<br />
Installation of Post-Tension Anchors 0<br />
Installation of <strong>the</strong> Rubber Dam 0<br />
Replacement of <strong>the</strong> Trash Rack System and Intake Deck 0<br />
Ancillary Works 0<br />
Removal of <strong>the</strong> Coffer Dam and Working Plat<strong>for</strong>m 2<br />
Operation<br />
General Operation 0<br />
General Maintenance Activities 0<br />
Decommissioning and Abandonment<br />
Removal of Facilities and Site Reclamation 1<br />
Notes:<br />
Project-Related <strong>Environmental</strong> Effects were ranked as follows:<br />
0 No interaction. The environmental effects are rated not significant and are not considered fur<strong>the</strong>r in this report.<br />
1 Interaction will occur. However, based on past experience and professional judgment, <strong>the</strong> interaction would not result in a<br />
significant environmental effect, even without mitigation, or <strong>the</strong> interaction would clearly not be significant due to application of<br />
codified practices. The environmental effects are rated not significant and are not considered fur<strong>the</strong>r in this report.<br />
2 Interaction may, even with codified mitigation, result in a potentially significant environmental effect and/or is important to<br />
regulatory and/or public interest. Potential environmental effects are considered fur<strong>the</strong>r and in more detail in <strong>the</strong> EA.<br />
Page 50 June 15, 2011