Lower Churchill River Hydroelectric Generation Project – Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
The proponent proposes to construct and operate two hydroelectric power generating facilities on the lower section of the Churchill River at Gull Island and Muskrat Falls in Labrador . Gull Island is located approximately 100 kilometres and Muskrat Falls 30 kilometres to the southwest of the Town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay , respectively. The two facilities will have a combined power generation capacity of approximately 2,800 megawatts (MW). The Gull Island facility will have a capacity of 2,000 MW, including a dam 99 metres high by 1,315 metres long with a reservoir 225 kilometres long, flooding an additional 85 square kilometre area. The Muskrat Falls facility will have a capacity of 800 MW, including a dam at the north section 32 metres high by 180 metres long, and, south section 29 metres high by 370 metres long with a reservoir 60 kilometres long, flooding an additional 36 square kilometre area. The project will also include interconnecting transmission lines to the existing Labrador grid at Churchill Falls Generating Station. Construction is scheduled to begin in mid-2009 at Gull Island with first power generation in mid-2014, and construction of Muskrat Falls is proposed to start three years following the start of construction at Gull Island.
- December 1, 2006 – The undertaking was registered.
- January 15, 2007 – Public comments are due.
- January 26, 2007 – The Minister requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement.
- February 5, 2007 – Assessment Committee Appointed.
- December 19, 2007 – Draft Guidelines for the EIS are available for public review.
- January 25, 2008 – The Minister extends the public review period for the draft EIS Guidelines.
- June 6, 2008 – Draft Joint Review Panel Agreement and Terms of Reference Published.
- July 17, 2008 – Final EIS Guidelines Issued.
- January 8, 2009 – Joint Review Panel Established.
- August 25, 2011 – Joint Review Panel Report Released.
- March 15, 2012 – Government’s Response to the Joint Review Panel Recommendations
- March 15, 2012 – The Minister announced that the project is released.
- June 14, 2016 – Human Health Risk Assessment Plan Approved.
- August 30, 2016 – Appeal Submitted.
- September 16, 2016 – Appeal Decision.
- Documents:
- Registration
- Draft EIS Guidelines (133 KB)
- EIS Guidelines – Final (199 KB)
- Draft Joint Review Panel Agreement (66 KB)
- Joint Review Panel Agreement – Final (71 KB)
- Joint Review Panel Report (5 MB)
- Government’s Response to the Joint Review Panel Recommendations (236 KB)
- Environmental Protection Plan Component 1 and 4b REVISED (2.9 MB)
- Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (3.7 MB)
- Black Bear Protection & EEMP (1 MB)
- Furbearers Protection & EEMP (1 MB)
- Atmospheric EEMP (1.4 MB)
- Avifauna Protection & EEMP (1 MB)
- Navigation Mitigation & EEMP (569 KB)
- Caribou Protection & EEMP (2 MB)
- Methylmercury EEMP (334 KB)
- Aquatic EEMP (3.6 MB)
- Ice Formation EEMP (966 KB)
- Socioeconomic EEMP (1.1 MB)
- Health and Safety Management Plan (3.6 MB)
- Species at Risk Protection EEMP (2.6 MB)
- Regulatory Compliance Plan (2.2 MB)
- Gender Equity and Diversity Program (6.3 MB)
- Mud Lake Groundwater EEMP (1.7 MB)
- Human Health Risk Assessment Plan (9 MB)
- Methylmercury Monitoring Plan For Surface Water Quality (2 MB)
