OTTAWA - April 3, 2009 - The Joint Panel appointed to review the proposed Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project is currently considering the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) filed in February, 2009 by the proponent, Nalcor Energy. Panel members are Lesley Griffiths (Co-chair), Herb Clarke (Co-Chair), Keith Chaulk, James Igloliorte and Meinhard Doelle.
As part of its ongoing work requirements, the Panel will be in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on April 6-8, 2009 but will not be meeting with anyone at that time.
The Secretariat for the Joint Panel will hold information sessions in a number of communities starting on April 20, 2009. The sessions will take place in the Lake Melville region, Hopedale, Cartwright, Rigolet, Natuashish, Churchill Falls, Labrador City/Wabush and St. John’s. Final details on the dates, times and locations of the sessions will be provided soon.
The information sessions will give Aboriginal groups, the public, governments and other interested parties an opportunity to hear about how the joint panel review will proceed and how they can participate. Federal and provincial representatives who form the secretariat will be making presentations and will answer questions. The Panel will not be present at these sessions.
The Panel is currently inviting the public to comment on the adequacy of the EIS prior to the deadline of May 22, 2009. All comments will be made public through the online registry established for the project. The EIS, along with more information on this project, are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, registry number 07-05-26178.
The proponent, Nalcor Energy, proposes to construct two hydroelectric generating stations with a total capacity of just over 3000 megawatts (MW) on the Lower Churchill River, together with transmission lines to connect the two generation sites to the existing Upper Churchill Project. The proposed generation stations would be located at Gull Island (2,250 MW) and Muskrat Falls (824 MW).
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Media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
613-957-0434
