ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA) PROCESS
THE PROJECT
Emera Newfoundland & Labrador (ENL) is seeking
environmental regulatory approvals to construct and
operate the Maritime Link Transmission Project between
the Island of Newfoundland and Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The Maritime Link is a new 500 MW, +/- 200 to 250 kV
high voltage transmission system.
ENL has undertaken considerable engineering and
environmental study and will use this information in
combination with stakeholder feedback to plan a route
that will, where possible, follow existing infrastructure
while minimizing environmental and economic impacts.
As a result of these efforts approximately 90% of the
route follows existing right of ways. Additional study and
consultation will continue as the project develops and
becomes more defined.
The proposed route, including subsea cable, will run
between Granite Canal, Newfoundland and Woodbine,
Nova Scotia.
There are three main components to the Project:
Western Newfoundland
A new transmission line approximately 300 km in
length will be constructed between Granite Canal
and Cape Ray. The line will originate at Granite Canal
and follow adjacent to existing transmission lines
to the Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro substation
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at Bottom Brook. A converter station will be
constructed at Bottom Brook to convert high voltage
alternating current (HVAC) to high voltage direct
current (HVDC). This is an efficient way to transmit
electricity and reduces losses on transmission lines.
At the converter station an overhead line will extend
approximately 20 km to a shore based grounding
facility to be located in St. George’s Bay. The main
transmission line will leave the converter station
and follow a route of existing transmission lines to
Cape Ray.
Cabot Strait
Approximately two km inland from Cape Ray, the
overhead cables will transition to underground
cables. At an anchor site at Cape Ray two parallel
HVDC subsea cables will extend under the sea
approximately 180 km from Cape Ray, Newfoundland
to Point Aconi, Nova Scotia. The exact route is to be
determined. At Point Aconi the subsea cables will
transition approximately one km inland to overhead
cables. The subsea cable will be installed in a
manner to protect it from interactions with fishing
gear and other equipment and/or activities. This may
include, but is not limited to, taking advantage of
greater water depths, burying the cable, or protecting
it with rock berm. Safety zones around the cables are
currently not expected to be required based upon
our careful approach to design. Once the cables are
laid, navigation charts will be updated to show cable
locations and notices sent out to mariners.
Nova Scotia
A new transmission line less than 50 km in length will
begin at a landfall transition compound near Point
Aconi and will parallel existing transmission lines
to a converter station at Woodbine. At the converter
station an overhead line will extend to a shore based
grounding facility. The location of this facility is to be
determined. The converter station at Woodbine is
considered the end of the project where the HVDC
will be integrated into the existing Nova Scotia
electricity grid.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
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Subsea cables;
Shore based grounding facilities;
Two converter stations and adjoining substations;
Transmission corridors; and
Two transition compounds.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Project activities associated with construction of the
Maritime Link include:
Access and clearing — Through our careful design
planning, approximately 90% of the routing required
for the construction and maintenance of the project
is already accessible. Although existing access roads
will be utilized to the full extent possible, construction
and transmission lines along existing rights of way or
through new corridors may still involve creating new
access routes.
Construction of high voltage ac/dc converter
stations — Converter stations transform HVDC to
HVAC and HVAC to HVDC. The structures will consist
of a concrete foundation; galvanized steel structures
to support the electrical equipment and switchgear;
a building containing infrastructure that requires
sheltering; associated office and maintenance areas;
and an access road. This will be similar in size to a small
warehouse.
Installation of transmission infrastructure —
Installing transmission towers includes construction of
foundations, tower assembly and erection. A conductor
is attached to the transmission towers by rolling it onto
the line using stringing blocks or pulleys to run from
tower to tower. Once the conductors are attached, each
tower is inspected to ensure that all connections are in
place and the conductor is correctly tensioned.
Installation of grounding systems — A grounding
system involves two components: an overhead line from
the converter station and the shore based grounding
site. The grounding lines will utilize existing corridors or
parallel existing corridors where possible in an effort
to reduce the amount of new land required. While scaled
in size to meet our needs, this type of system is a
part of every electrical system, including your home.
The ground rod is usually at the base below your
power meter.
Laying of the subsea cable — Cable will be laid
following natural protective features such as deep sea
valleys and ocean contours. Cable will be loaded onto
a cable-laying vessel and transported to the site where
the cable is eventually laid. The cable will be laid on
the seabed and protected by burying or rock berm
placement; at greater depths no protection
will be required.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
PROCESS
Distribution of materials — Steel sections for
transmission towers, wire reels and hardware
required for construction will be distributed along the
transmission corridor access routes by vehicles or
other suitable equipment. Helicopters may be used
as required.
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The Maritime Link Project is currently undergoing an
Environmental Assessment (EA) which will determine if
the project will be permitted to proceed. This process is
managed by regulatory authorities that administer the
review and make a recommendation for project approval
to the Minister responsible.
This is a formal environmental regulatory review process
that is completed on all similarly proposed development
initiatives. Environmental assessment is a mechanism for
reviewing projects to predict environmental effects of
proposed initiatives. The process is administered by law
through the federal and provincial government(s) where the
project will be developed to ensure that projects proceed
in an environmentally acceptable manner.
The EA process is a critical part of regulatory compliance
for the project. In addition to providing direction for
regulatory approvals associated with Project activities
(such as, avoiding or minimizing watercourse alteration,
in-stream activity, constructing access roads and trails
only where necessary, and development on crown lands),
the EA process encompasses compliance and effects
monitoring as part of the overall regulatory approval.
ENL is preparing an Environmental Assessment Report,
which will be reviewed by regulators, the public and
Aboriginal groups. Included in this document will be an
outline of potential environmental and economic effects
of the Maritime Link Project and actions to help increase
positive effects and mitigate potential negative effects.
As part of this process the Maritime Link project team
will be:
1. Identifying and evaluating the Project’s benefits
and potential effects;
2. Assessing and proposing measures to mitigate
or reduce potential adverse outcomes and to
enhance benefits;
3. Predicting whether there will be significant
adverse environmental effects; and
4. Engaging potentially affected or neighboring
Aboriginal peoples, stakeholders and the general
public throughout the process.
Based on the Environmental Assessment Report, each
regulatory body will decide if any terms and conditions
need to be included if approval for the Maritime Link
Project is granted.
ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
EA SUPPORT STUDIES
Defining a Study Area for the establishment of a Route
STUDY AREA
Existing
Infrastructure
Study areas vary in width from 500m in NS to a minimum of 2km in NL.
As part of the Environmental Assessment process,
Emera Newfoundland & Labrador has identified a Study
Area for the purpose of environmental assessment that
is larger than the area that will ultimately be required
to determine the defined transmission route for the
Maritime Link Project. This study area was chosen
based on early planning and research, beginning with
origin and destination points for the transmission of
electricity, as well as the location of existing and new
supporting infrastructure.
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Using this Study Area ENL conducted approximately 20
studies starting in 2011, continuing in 2012 and ongoing
through subsequent phases of the project. Through these
studies information has been gathered on vegetation
and wildlife, land and resource use, traditional land use,
historic and heritage resources, and freshwater and
marine environments. Extensive work has been done in
an effort to parallel existing transmission lines resulting
in optimization of existing access points and minimizing
impacts on the environment.
Some of the studies conducted include the following:
Study
Consultant
Mi’kmaq Fisheries
Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources
Avifauna
Stantec Consulting
Cabot Strait Geophysical/Geotechnical Survey
Fugro
Commercial Fisheries
CEF Consultants
Cultural Resource Assessment
CRM Group
EA Support Consultant
Stantec Consulting
Ecological Land Classification
CBCL Consulting Ltd.
Freshwater Watercourse ID/fish habitat
Sikimuit
Large Mammal Studies
Stantec Consulting
Marine Acoustic
Jasco Research
Marine Benthic Ecology Nearshore
Stantec Consulting
Marine Benthic Ecology Nearshore
McGregor Geoscience
Metocean Study
Oceans Ltd.
Mi'kmaq Ecological Knowledge Study
Membertou Geomatics Services
Noise Assessment - Converter Stations
Stantec Consulting
Orthophotography
First Base Solutions
Sediment Transport Modelling
CBCL Consulting Ltd.
Socio-economic Assessment
AMEC
Viewscapes Assessment
CBCL Consulting Ltd.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
ENL’s principles of engagement focus on being the best
source of information with respect to the Project and
initiating early engagement to identify concerns and
respond quickly. Public consultation with respect to the
Maritime Link Project began in the spring of 2011, well
in advance of the formal initiation of the EA process on
November 30, 2011. Stakeholder outreach has included
regulatory agencies, local residents, landowners,
commercial fishers, industry, the business community,
guide outfitters, hunters, anglers, special interest groups,
and the general public.
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Engagement has involved identifying and addressing
concerns and interests as these relate to Project
components and activities and have identified a broad
range of interests.
Engagement opportunities have included, but are not
limited to: one on one meetings, technical workshops,
supplier sessions, open houses, and presentations to
industry groups. The public may also comment on the
Project through the environmental assessment process
(see EA schedule on previous page).
NOTES
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CONTACT US
If you have any questions about the Project or would like to
be included in ongoing communications, you may contact
Emera Newfoundland & Labrador at:
1-855-722-3373
info_MaritimeLink@emera.com
For Project updates please visit www.EmeraNL.com.
Emera Newfoundland & Labrador welcomes and
encourages participation from all interested parties.
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