Terms of Reference

Regional Advisory Meeting on the Review of the Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project

April 20-21, 2009

Fluvarium, Nagle’s Place
St. John’s, NL

Chairperson: Keith Clarke

Background

Nalcor Energy (formerly Newfoundland and Labrador hydro) is proposing to develop the hydroelectric potential on the Lower Churchill River, Labrador. The proposed project will include two dams with associated generating stations. The first of these sites is proposed to be built at Gull Island which will consist of a 99 meter high dam creating a reservoir of approximately 215 km2 and 200 km long. The full supply level of this reservoir will be 125 m above sea level with a generating capacity of approximately 2000 MW. The second site is proposed to be at Muskrat falls and will consist of two dams, 33 meters and 29 meters high respectively and will create a reservoir of approximately 41 km2 and 60 km long. The full supply level of this site will be 39 meters above sea level with an approximate generating capacity of 800 MW.

Issue Requiring Science Advice

The construction of these generating facilities would alter the aquatic environment of the Churchill River, below Churchill Falls, as well as the receiving environment (i.e. Lake Melville). This alteration would impact on fish and fish habitat, and would require the issuance of Authorizations under the Fisheries Act, thus making the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) a responsible authority under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA).

Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk Branch (DFO) have requested that Science Branch (DFO) undertake  a review of specificially identified information contained in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) provided by Nalcor for the Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project. This review will focus on the science behind the descriptions and predictions contained within the EIS. Specially, this review will evaluate:

1. The methods used within the descriptions and/or predictions of the aquatic environment.
2. The assumptions associated with each methodology, to ensure they are adequately identified and described.
3. Review any models used for predictions, making sure the level of uncertainty is appropriately described and to ensure precaution has been applied.

Science has determined that this advice will be developed and provided through a Regional Advisory Meeting (RAP) process. The information from this scientific review will be provided to Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk Branch to help form part of the Department’s response to overall adequacy of the EIS as assessed against the guidelines which have been agreed upon by the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador namely whether the specifically identified information items adequately address the corresponding Guideline sections – and if not why not.

A presentation will be made at the workshop by Oceans, Habitat and Species at Risk staff on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) and its applicability to the  Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project.

Workshop Objectives

This workshop will focus on the review of the specifically identified sections within the EIS and the relevant component studies that either describe and/or predict changes within the aquatic environment. The information required for this review can be found in a number of sections throughout the EIS as well as component studies on four broad topics:

1. Fish and Fish Habitat (11 reports)
2. Water quality and Quantity (5 reports)
3. Hydrology (8 reports)
4. Mercury (5 reports)

A complete listing of these reports and relevant sections of the EIS are indicated in the addendum to this Terms of Reference. The relevant sections of the EIS and component studies will be made available on the CSAS website for download to participants. To obtain the username and password please contact me.

The primary objective of this workshop is to have a discussion and make conclusions to answer the questions outlined above. Participants are to engage in the discussion and contribute to the science advice that will be produced as a result of the workshop discussions.

Workshop Outputs

Scientific advice will be provided in the form of peer-reviewed Science Advisory Report (SAR). A CSAS Proceedings document will be produced to record workshop discussions and conclusions.

Participation

• DFO Science from several regions and NHQ
• DFO Habitat both regionally and NHQ
• Centre of Expertise on Hydropower Impacts on Fish and Fish Habitat (CHIF)
• Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
• Province of Newfoundland and Labrador
• Environmental organizations
• Aboriginal organizations
• Academia

Appendix A

Table of Concordance for the Environmental Impact Statement with Guidelines

Appendix B

Component Studies
Aquatic Environment

Fish and Fish Habitat

1. Aquatic Vegetation Study; AMEC Earth and Environmental Ltd. 2008
2. Seal Abundance and Distribution; Sikumiut Environmental Management Ltd. 2007
3. Habitat Quantification; AMEC Earth and Environmental Ltd. and Sikumiut Environmental Management Ltd. 2007
4. 2006 Fish and Fish Habitat Baseline Study: Catch-based Utilization Index Validation and Additional Habitat Surveys; AMEC Earth and Environmental Ltd. 2007
5. HADD Determination Methodology Churchill River, Labrador; AMEC Earth and Environmental Ltd. 2001
6. Biological Study of the Goose Bay Estuary; Jacques Whitford 2001
7. Fish Migration and Habitat Use of the Churchill River; Jacques Whitford 2000
8. Fish and Fish Habitat; AGRA Earth and Environmental 1999
9. Primary Productivity and Plankton Biomass; Jacques Whitford 1999
10. Benthic Invertebrate Study of the Churchill River; Jacques Whitford 1999
11. Lower Churchill River Fish Consumption and Angling Survey; Minaskuat Inc. 2009

Water Quality and Quantity

1. Water and Sediment Modeling in the Lower Churchill River; Minaskuat Inc. 2008
2. Water and Sediment Quality in the Lower Churchill River; Minaskuat Limited Partnership 2007
3. Sedimentation and Morphodynamics Study; Northwest Hydraulic Consultants 2008
4. Water and Sediment Quality of the Churchill River; Jacques Whitford 1999
5. Water Quality and Chlorophyll Study; Jacques Whitford 2000

Hydrology

1. Bank Stability Study; AMEC Earth and Environmental Ltd. 2008
2. Salt Water Intrusion 3D Model; Hatch 2008
3. Hydraulic Modeling of River; Hatch 2008
4. Ice Dynamics of the Lower Churchill River; Hatch 2007
5. Further Clarification and Updating of the 2007 Ice Dynamics Report; Hatch 2008
6. Aquatic Environment in the Goose Bay Estuary; Amec Earth and Environmental Ltd. and BAE‐Newplan Group Limited SNC‐Lavalin 2001
7. Sediment Plume Analysis; Hatch 2008
8. Salt Water Intrusion 3D Model Study – Addendum No. 1; Hatch 2008

Mercury

1. Assessment of the Potential for Increased Mercury Concentrations; Tetra Tech Inc. 2008
2. Calculation of Anticipated Consumption Advisory Levels of Fish in the Lower Churchill Area; Minaskuat Inc. 2008
3. Existing Mercury Concentrations in Osprey and Ecological Risk Assessment; Minaskuat Inc. 2008
4. Statistical Analysis of Mercury Data from Churchill Falls (Labrador) Corporation Reservoirs; Jacques Whitford 2006
5. Freshwater Fish Mercury Sampling; AMEC Earth and Environmental Ltd. 2000