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 />
present (e.g., minor sediment delta <strong>for</strong>mation that has occurred since <strong>the</strong> construction of <strong>the</strong><br />
NFGS) and access can be restored without risk of environmental damage, and if o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
impediments to fish passage are not present in <strong>the</strong> tributaries, <strong>the</strong>n ef<strong>for</strong>ts will be made to<br />
ensure that <strong>the</strong> tributaries remain accessible to potentially spawning brook trout throughout <strong>the</strong><br />
period of temporary headpond draw down.<br />
The <strong>for</strong>ebay likely provides feeding habitat <strong>for</strong> several fish species. Near-shore habitat likely<br />
provides nursery habitat <strong>for</strong> various cyprinids as well as feeding habitat <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>se species.<br />
Deeper water provides overwintering habitat <strong>for</strong> large brook trout and possibly American eel.<br />
No permanent loss of fish habitat is anticipated as a result of <strong>the</strong> Project, as <strong>the</strong>se repairs will be<br />
conducted within <strong>the</strong> existing developed footprint of <strong>the</strong> NFGS and associated structures and no<br />
permanent in-water structures are part of <strong>the</strong> Project.<br />
The Project will have no effect on <strong>the</strong> inherent productive capacity of fish habitat <strong>for</strong> eels in <strong>the</strong><br />
upper river, or on <strong>the</strong> downstream passage of adult American eel. However, <strong>the</strong> proposed<br />
project may affect <strong>the</strong> ability of juvenile American eel (elvers) to enter <strong>the</strong> upper river.<br />
Presently, elvers must ascend <strong>the</strong> natural falls, and <strong>the</strong>n ascend <strong>the</strong> wetted face of <strong>the</strong> dam<br />
be<strong>for</strong>e entering <strong>the</strong> headpond. The deteriorated condition of <strong>the</strong> portion of <strong>the</strong> dam to be<br />
repaired may assist upstream migration of elvers, to <strong>the</strong> extent that leakage and spill caused by<br />
<strong>the</strong> deteriorated condition of <strong>the</strong> concrete create such wetted conditions. The proposed repairs<br />
will prevent leakage, and installation of <strong>the</strong> rubber dam may introduce a new obstacle to<br />
upstream migration of elvers. There<strong>for</strong>e, NB Power will consult with DFO regarding mitigation<br />
and/or management measures to assist elvers reaching <strong>the</strong> head of <strong>the</strong> natural falls to pass <strong>the</strong><br />
dam and enter <strong>the</strong> headpond.<br />
Following installation of <strong>the</strong> Coffer Dam, <strong>the</strong> work area between <strong>the</strong> Coffer Dam and <strong>the</strong> power<br />
house will be dewatered temporarily. Dewatering will be facilitated through <strong>the</strong> turbines and<br />
sluice gates or by pumping of water over existing vegetation in accordance with NB Power’s<br />
WAWA Permit (Condition of Approval No. 13). During <strong>the</strong> dewatering process <strong>the</strong>re is <strong>the</strong><br />
potential <strong>for</strong> direct mortality of fish. A fish biologist will be on-site with a fish out team to monitor<br />
fish presence and undertake fish rescue as required. Any remaining pools in <strong>the</strong> dewatered<br />
<strong>for</strong>ebay will be fished out using dip nets and seine nets, and <strong>the</strong> fish relocated to fish habitat<br />
upstream. It is not anticipated that <strong>the</strong>re will be large numbers of fish in <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>ebay<br />
downstream of <strong>the</strong> Coffer Dam during dewatering as consultation with NFGS Operation<br />
personnel and <strong>the</strong> Nepisiguit Salmon Association indicates that fish move from <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>ebay into<br />
<strong>the</strong> upper watershed in May and early June (R. Lavigne, pers. comm. 2011; R. Baker, pers.<br />
comm. 2011). In <strong>the</strong> event where large numbers of fish are identified in <strong>the</strong> <strong>for</strong>ebay area during<br />
dewatering, <strong>the</strong> fish biologist will have <strong>the</strong> authority to halt <strong>the</strong> dewatering process to complete<br />
<strong>the</strong> fish rescue.<br />
While recognizing that <strong>the</strong> Fisheries Act requires consideration of all fish species, <strong>the</strong> DFO<br />
Policy <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> Management of Fish Habitat (DFO 1986) and Decision Framework (DFO 1998)<br />
make specific reference to maintenance of <strong>the</strong> current productive capacity of habitat <strong>for</strong> fish<br />
suitable <strong>for</strong> human consumption. Since <strong>the</strong> Nepisiguit Falls is impassable to fish, <strong>the</strong> primary<br />
Page 58 June 15, 2011