OTTAWA, September 4, 2008 - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) has awarded a total of $125,000 to three applicants in support of their participation in the environmental assessment process of the proposed Lowe er Churchill project, near Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The funding recipients are Sierra Club of Canada – Atlantic Canada Chapter, Natural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and Grand Riverkeeper Labrador I nc.
This phase II funding is being made available to help successful applicants review the proponent's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and/or prepare for and participate in the public hearings that will be announced at a later date. Phas e I funding of $50 000 was allocated in August 2007 to assist recipients in reviewing the draft Guidelines for the EIS.
A Funding Review Committee, independent of the review panel, reviewed the requests and provided recommendations on available fun ding. The Committee's report, as well as further information on the project, is available on the Agency's Web site, under registry number 07-05-26178.
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydr o proposes the development of two hydroelectric generating stations on the Lower Churchill River. The proposal includes two potential sites. One is a 2,000 megawatt project at Gull Island, which is 225 km downstream from the existing 5,428 megawatt facili ty at Churchill Falls, and the other is an 800 megawatt project at Muskrat Falls, which is 60 km downstream of Gull Island.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
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Media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0434
