Science Response 2012/021
Science Review of the Labrador-Island Transmission Link Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Context
The Labrador-Island Transmission Link project involves the development of a high voltage direct current (HVdc) transmission system extending from the lower Churchill River in central Labrador to Soldiers Pond on the Island of Newfoundland. The proposed project will extend over a distance of approximately 1100 km and will include alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) converter stations at Muskrat Falls, Labrador and Soldiers Pond, Newfoundland; overhead transmission lines; a submarine cable crossing the Strait of Belle Isle; and shore electrodes in the Strait of Belle Isle and Conception Bay.
The Proponent was advised by the Minister of Environment and Conservation that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is required for the Project under the Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Protection Act (EPA). The Project is also subject to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA). The purpose of the EIS is to identify alternatives to the Project, alternatives methods for carrying it out, the environment that will be affected, the important environmental effects associated with the Project, measures that are required to mitigate any adverse effects and the significance of residual environmental effects. The EIS shall contain a review and assessment of all available information pertinent to the conduct of this environmental assessment as well as such additional new information or data as provided by the Proponent or requested by Canada or Newfoundland and Labrador. Component Studies shall address baseline data requirements to support the evaluation of environmental effects and/or the development of mitigation measures as well as monitoring and follow up programs.
Development of the Project will alter the aquatic environment, which could result in impacts on fish and fish habitat. Since the project is likely to cause a harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat, this would require issuance of a Fisheries Act Authorization, thereby making Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) a responsible authority under CEAA. On April 13, 2012, the Habitat Protection Division of the Ecosystems Management Branch in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region requested that DFO Science undertake a review of specific sections of the Labrador-Island Transmission Link Project EIS with a deadline of May 18, 2012. An extension on this deadline was subsequently requested by Science and the new deadline for the provision of science advice was determined to be May 29.
Science Branch (NL and Quebec Regions) undertook a Science Special Response Process (SSRP) for this review. The information from this scientific review was provided to Ecosystems Management to help form part of the Department’s response to the overall adequacy of the EIS as assessed against the Scoping Document which have been agreed upon by the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. This SSRP focused on the review of the specifically identified sections within the EIS (Appendix 1) and the relevant Component Studies (Appendix 2) that provide baseline information on the current aquatic environment.
The objective of this review was to evaluate:
- The completeness of the EIS in describing the existing environment and environmental effects of the project;
- The accuracy of the information provided within the EIS; and
- The extent to which the EIS addresses requirements outlined within the project’s Scoping Document.
The information required for this review can be found in a number of sections throughout the EIS and associated Component Studies.
This Science Response report is from the Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Zonal Science Special Response Process (SSRP) of May 17, 2012 on the Science Review of the Labrador-Island Transmission Link Project Environmental Impact Statement (EISM).
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