Valued

Environmental

Component

Weight

Pre-constructionphase

Construction phase Operatingphase

Decommissioning phase

Value

-land survey-geotechnical

investigations

- Clearingand grubbing- Excavation- Blasting- re-routingChurchi l lr iver

-Disposal

of excessmaterials -Insta l l ingdams andhydroturb ines-Accidental

events

-General

maintenance-Accidental

events-Operation

-Equipment

disassemblyand removal- Blasting thedam- siterestoration

AtmosphericEnvironment

-2 - t -3 +4

AquaticEnvironment

-2 -1 -7 +1

TerrestrialEnvironment

-3 -1 + l

Economy,EmploymentandBusiness

7 t 2 2 7

Communit ies 1 -t 2 -3

Land andResourceUse

-1 -2 - I +4 -2

CulturalHeritageResources

-1 +1

ENVIRoNMENTAL IN4PACT STATEMENT i LOWER CHURCHILT HYDROELECTRIC GENERATION PROJECT

. Communi t ies ; and

. Cultural Heri tage Resources.

Land and Resource Use was assessed without Kls because i t provided an appropriate level of focus and scope forenvironmental ef fects assessment. The various act iv i t ies associated with this VEC overlap and are notnecessari ly discrete (e.g., snowmobi l ing and trapping may occur together). Therefore, di f ferent act iv i t ies areassessed within the single VEC, with Project act iv i ty interact ions being assessed through measurableparameters.

Where Kls have been selected, their assessment fol lows the same general steps described for the VEC-levelassessment. For each Kl, the def ini t ion and rat ionale for select ion is presented, and any relevant l inkages toother Kls are descr ibed. For each VEC or Kl, the measurable parameters that are used to quant i fy environmentaleffects are descr ibed (e.9., amount of an emission, areal extent of habitat changed, number of jobs created,number and type of archaeological s i tes that might be disturbed). A measurable parameter is a measurableaspect of a VEC or Kl that can be quant i f ied and compared against a basel ine value or condit ion. The VECs, Klsand measurab le parameters used in the env i ronmenta lassessment a re l i s ted in Tab le 9 -L .

Table 9-1 Valued Environmental Components, Key Indicators and Measurable Parameters

Key Indlcator, MgCsuralle Faranieter ;

Blophyslcal Envlronment

AtmosphericEnvironment

Climate . GHG emiss ions

Air Quali ty Air pol lutants (PM, PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx and VOCs)

AquaticEnvironment

F ish and F ish Hab i ta t Habitat quanti ty in units/hectares for r iver and standing waterChange in f ish habitat qual i ty, including- temperature- TSS- total phosphorous

Change in f i sh d is t r ibu t ion and abundance, inc lud ing- h e h i t a f r r c e o p

- mortal i ty

Change in f ish health

TerrestrialEnvironment

Caribou, Moose, BlackBear, Marten, Porcupine,Ruffed Grouse, WetlandSparrows, Other Speciesof Concern

Change in habitat: quanti ty (proport ion) of primary habitat that wi l l be altered orlost

Change in health: a relat ive measurement ofthe potential for change in healthMortal i ty: number of fatal i t ies as a proport ion of the populat ion

Beaver Change in habitat: the number (proport ion)of breeding sites ( i .e., act ive coloniesfor Beaver) that wi l l be altered or lost.Change in health: a relat ive measurement of the potential for change in healthMortal i ty: number of fatal i t ies as a proport ion of the populat ion

Canada Goose, SurfScoter, Harlequin Duck

Change in habitat: the quanti ty (proport ion) ofstaging and breeding habitat ( i .e.,the amount of open water avai lable in the Spring at tradit ional ly used stagingareas) that wi l l be altered or lost

Change in health: a relat ive measurement of the potential for change in healthMortal i ty: number of fatal i t ies as a proport ion of the populat ion

Osprey Change in habitat: the number (proport ion) of breeding sites ( i .e., act ive nests forOsprey) that wi l l be altered or lostChange in health: the Hazard Quotient (HQ) as determined through an EcologicalRisk Assessment (ERA)

Mortal i ty: number of fatal i t ies as a proport ion of the populat ion

VoLUME lA, Cnnprrn 9 ENVTRoNMENTAL AssEssMENT AppRoAcH ANo METHoDs pAcE 9_15

ENVIRoNMENTAT IMPA T STATEMENT I LoWER cHURcHILL HYDRoELECTRIc GENERATIoN PRoJEcT

Table 9-1 valued Environmental components, Key lndicators and Measurable parameters (cont.)

r . i t ll

Socio-economic Environment

Economy,Employment andBusiness

Economy

a

Direct, indirect and induced income generated in Newfoundland and Labradorfrom Project construction and operation and maintenanceDirect, indirect and induced corporate taxes, personal taxes and other revenues,including payrol l taxes and Worker's Compensation premiums, to Newfoundlandand Labrador

Employment Direct, indirect and induced employment levels in Newfoundland and Labrador,Labrador and i ts regions from Project construction and operation andmaintena nce

Employment by gender and Aboriginal status

Labour force part icipation rate

Employment rate

Business a

a

Number of businesses in the construction and related trades sectors in LabradorValue of contracts obtained by Labrador and Newfoundland businesses

Communit ies Physical Infrastructureand Services

Roads - design capacity ( i .e., number vehicles/hr )Port - maximum load that can be transferred from vessel to dock

Airport/passenger terminal - design capacity

Water/sewer - design capacity

Power - design capacity

Communications - design capacity

Waste - design capacity of landfi l l si te

Industr ial and commercial real estate - avai lable industr ial and commercial realestate

Social Infrastructure andServices

Security- Pol ice - off icer/populat ion rat io- F i re - number o f ca l l s requ i r ing a

Education- Teacher/studentrat io- Design capacity

Housing and accommodations- Bui lding lot avai labi l i ty

response

Communi tv Hea l th Health services- Capacity (e.g., doctor/populat ion rat io;

avai lable per 1,000 populat ion)

Physical environment- Level of methylmercury in humans

nurse/populat ion rat io; beds

Land and ResourceUse

Not app l i cab le -

environmentalassessment is conductedfor VEC (Land andResource Use)

Hunting/trapping/f ishing - changes in access, f ish and wildl i fe habitat,hunting/trapping areas and health of f ish and wildl i fe for human consumption

Navigation and winter travel - changes in access

Recreational use - change in number of cabins

Forestry - change in land base avai lable for t imber cult ivat ion

Mineral lands - changes in area of leased or l icensed mineral lands

Special areas - changes in number of special areas

Berry picking and medicinal plants - changes in berry picking areas and areas withmed ic ina l p lan ts

Agriculture - change in quanti ty of lands zoned for agriculture

Landscape/r iver aesthetics - pre- and post-development aesthetic value

PAGE9^16 ] VoLUME IA, CHAPTER 9 ENVIRoNMENTALASSESSMENTAPPRoACH AND METHODS

Vqlued.,,Environmbntal

ComponentKey Indlcator Measurable Parameter

Socio-economic Environment (cont.)

Cultural HeritageResources

Historic andArchaeological Resources

Number of si tes that wi l l be lost or disturbed

ENVTRoNMENTAt lMpAcr STATEMENT i LowER CHURcHtLt HyDRoEtEcrRlc GENERATToN pRoJEcr

Table 9-1 Valued Environmental Components, Key Indicators and Measurable Parameters (cont.)

9.3 Environmental Assessment Boundaries

For each VEC, appropr ia te spat ia l and tempora l boundar ies fo r the env i ronmenta l assessment a re es tab l i shed,Boundaries are used to focus an assessment and to help determine the most effect ive use of avai lableresources. Specif ic boundaries are def ined for the VECs by considering appl icable Project components, act iv i t ies,l ikely interact ions and the nature of the VEC in quest ion, among other considerat ions.

9.3.1 Assessment Area

An Assessment Area is def ined for each Kl or VEC, as appropriate. An Assessment Area is the spat ial extentwithin which the signi f icance of Project environmental ef fects is determined. The spat ial boundary captures theextent of Project environmental ef fects and provides a suff ic ient ly large area for context. The temporalboundary is def ined by the construct ion (2010 to 2020), and operat ion and maintenance phases (20L7onwards). The Assessment Area is also determined in considerat ion of ecological or socio-economic boundaries,and admin is t ra t i ve and techn ica l boundar ies descr ibed be low.

9.3.2 Ecological and Socio-economic Boundaries

Eco log i ca l and soc io -economic bounda r i es a re de te rm ined by t he spa t i a l and tempora l cha rac te r i s t i cs anddist r ibut ions of the VECs and thei r potent ia l in teract ions wi th the Project . Spat ia l ecological boundar ies aredetermined bythe d is t r ibut ion and movement pat terns of b iophysical components (e.g. , seasonal migrat ions ofvar ious f ish and wi ld l i fe species) or physical e lements (e.g. , watersheds) . Temporal ecological boundar iesconsider the re levant character is t ics of the VECs, inc luding the natura l or seasonal var iat ion of a populat ion orspec ies , o r any sens i t i ve o r c r i t i ca l pe r i ods such as spawn ing o r m ig ra t i on .

Simi lar ly , spat ia l socio-economic boundar ies are determined by the character is t ics of the VECs and thei rpotent ia l in teract ions wi th the Project . For example, boundar ies may ref lect the locat ion of Pro ject act iv i t ies,and the locat ion of communi t ies, land uses, labour force d is t r ibut ions and other socio-economic phenomenal ike ly to be af fected by those act iv i t ies. Temporal socio-economic boundar ies focus on the construct ion andope ra t i on and ma in tenance phases .

9.3.3 Administrat ive and Technical Boundaries

Administrat ive boundaries refer to spat ial and temporal considerat ions relevant to an environmentalassessment due to administrat ive, pol i t ical or jur isdict ional reasons. This includes resource management areas,regional economic zones or pol i t ical distr icts, as wel l as periods associated with management plans andact iv i t ies. l t may also include legislat ive prohibi t ions that are appl icable to Project act iv i t ies such as protect ion ofspecial areas.

Technical boundaries are determined by any pract ical or technical l imitat ions that may be associated with theanalysis and evaluat ion of potent ial environmental ef fects, such as data l imitat ions or analyt ical constraints.These are also ident i f ied and described as appropriate.

VoLUME lA, CHAPTER 9 ENVTRoNMENTAL AssEssMENT AppRoAcH AND METHoDs pAGE 9 17

25

would provide lessons that could be applied to the environmental assessment of theProject. The EIS should include a concise discussion of past hydroelectricgeneration projects on the Churchill River, the environmental effects that haveoccurred as a result, where overlapping environmental effect are anticipated, andthe measures that have been taken to mitigate or manage these overlappingenvironmental effects. Discussion of overlapping environmental effects shouldinclude consideration of the degree to which those mitigation measures have beensuccessful. Any long-term monitoring or follow-up programs of relevance to theseoverlapping environmental effects and the key results should also be described.This information will help interested parties to understand the potentialenvironmental effects of the Project and how they may be addressed.

4.4.4 Description of the Existing Environment

The EIS shall identify the study area for each VEC and include a description of theexist ing biophysical and socio-economic environment and the resources within i tthat will be affected or that might reasonably be expected to be affected, directly orindirectly, by the Project.

The EIS shall describe relevant aspects of the existing environment in the studyarea for each VEC prior to development of the Project, which constitutes thereference state of the environment. This description of the environment must reflectAboriginal traditional and community knowledge, as well as social, cultural andeconomic activities and values related to the described components.

Where appropriate and possible to do so, the Proponent shall present a time seriesof data and sufficient information to establish the averages, trends and extremes ofthe data that are necessary for the evaluation of potential environmental andcumulative effects of the Project. For each VEC, the Proponent should consider andjustifo how far back in time and how far into the future the environmentalassessment should be conducted. The Proponent wil l identify any deficiencies ininformation, and how these deficiencies will be addressed.

Using qualitative and quantitative surveys, the EIS shall describe the componentsof the biophysical and human environments likely to be affected by the Project. Ifthe information available from government or other agencies is insufficient or nolonger representative, the Proponent shall complete the description of theenvironment with current surveys.

Components of the environment must be described and shall include the necessarydata and the required information to understand, interpret and address theconfidence levels of these data (e.g., rnethods; survey dates and times; weatherconditions; location of sampling stations) and shall employ appropriate methods toidentify, understand, analyze and assess the environmental effects of the Project.

In addition, the EIS shall describe environmental interrelationships and sensitivityto disturbance. If the study results or data have been extrapolated or otherwisemanipulated to depict environmental conditions in the study area modelingmethods and equations shall be described with calculations of margins of errorand/ or confi dence limits.

EIS Guidelines - Lower Churchill Hvdroelectric Generation Proiect

26

A description of the existing environment shall be developed for each alternativedrawing specific reference to the VECs. References are attached at the end of theseGuidelines to provide direction to the Proponent. Detailed discussions shall bedeveloped and vECs described for the following environmental components.

4.4.4.1 Atmospheric Environment

The Proponent shall describe the relevant components of the atmosphericenvironment within the study area of the VECs, including the following:

(a) Climate and meteorology;(b) Indication of recent climate change observations;(c) Emissions of greenhouse gases (e.g., CO2, CH+) in the context of

provincial and regional emissions and targets and federalobjectives;

(d) Existing ambient air quality, including current substantivesources of emissions of conventional air contaminants (PM, SO2,NO*, VOCs);and

(e) Exist ing ambient noise level.

4.4.4.2 Aquatic Environment

The Proponent shall describe the relevant components of the aquaticenvironment within the study area of the VECs, including the following:

(a) Hydrological features such as lakes and streams/rivers,watershed boundaries, river hydrology and hydraulics,bathymetry, surface water flow, flood zones, lake and river iceformation, dynamics and melt patterns, salinity, tides, freshwatermixing zones and delta formation;

(b) Geomorphology, including erosion, sedimentation, channeldynamics and sediment supply;

(c) Water quality and quantity from both surface and groundwatersources, including any saltwater intrusion up the ChurchillRiveror into aquifers;

(d) Sediment quality of watercourse;(e) Important habitats found along the shoreline, banks, wetlands

and floodplain;(f) Aquatic and riparian vegetation;(g) Biological diversity, composition, abundance, distribution,

population dynamics and habitat utilization of aquatic species,including fish, semi-aquatic species and marine mammals suchas ringed seals;

(h) Mercury concentrations, mobility and fate within the ecosystemto be affected by the Project, including in water, fish and fish-eating wildlife at representative levels of the food chain asdetermined in an ecological risk assessment that includesfreshwater and marine fish and fish-eating wildlife;

(i) Species of special interest or conservation concern (includingtheir habitat), with an emphasis on rare, vulnerable or threatened

EIS Guidelines - Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project

27

species (e.g., species listed in the Endangered Species Act or theSpecies at Risk Act); and

O Human-environment interactions.

4.4.4,3 Terrestrial Environment

The Proponent shall describe the relevant components of the terrestrialenvironment within the study area of the VECs, including the following:

(a) Bedrock and surficial geology, terrain and soil conditions;(b) Regional seismicity (natural and reservoir-induced) and relevant

geological structures (l ineaments, faults, jo ints);(c) Reservoir-induced seismic activity of the neighbouring regions;(d) Pertinent physicaland chemicalproperties of sediment and rock,

that might be affected by or have an effect on the Project;(e) For areas that will be flooded, the levels of mercury and other

potentially toxic metals in the soils, in particular for soils withhigh organic content and indurated soils (ortstein);

(f) Areas of potential reservoir shoreline erosion and potentialground instability such as slumping or landslides;

(g) Groundwater movement and aquifer recharge zones;(h) Permafrost conditions including areas of discontinuous

permafrost, high ice content soils, thaw sensitive slopes andstream banks;

(i) Composit ion, abundance, distr ibution, population dynamics andhabitat utilization of terrestrial fauna, including mammals,avifauna (e.g., migratory birds, raptor, waterfowl andpasserine/songbird surveys) and herpetiles;

fi) Composition, distribution and abundance of terrestrial flora,including forest inventories and ecological land classifications;

(k) Existing patterns of habitat and ecotype alteration, disruptionand destruction;

( l) Composit ion, distr ibution and abundance of medicinalherbs andplants harvested by affected Aboriginal communities;

(m)Composition, distribution and abundance of wetlands asclassified using the Canada Wetland Classification System, andfurther characterized in terms of a functional analysis (e.g.,habitat, water flow regulation, groundwater recharge);

(n) Migratory patterns/river crossings;(o) Mercury concentrations, mobility and fate within the riparian

ecosystem, with an emphasis on representative species at variousIevels of the food chain as determined in an ecological riskassessment;

(p) Species of special interest or conservation concern (includingtheir habitat), with an emphasis on rare, vulnerable or threatenedspecies (e.g., species listed inthe Endangered Species Act or theSpecies at Risk Act); and

(q) Human-wildlife interaction (e.g., bear management plans).

For the terrestrial environment, some key indicator species/speciesassemblages were selected to focus the environmental assessment. The

EIS Guidelines - Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation proiect

28

species selected are reflective of different phyla, orders, families or guildsof species that represent key components of the terrestrial environment.These species were selected as being representative of species groups,importance in the food web (e.g., top predator), and their importance fromsocio-cultural and economic perspectives. The following is the list of thesekey indicators:

(a) Beaver;(b) Marten;(c) Porcupine;(d) Caribou;(e) Moose;(f) Black bear;(g) Harlequin duck;(h) Early breeding waterfowl (including Canada goose);(i) Late breeding waterfowl (including Scoters);fi) Upland game birds;(k) Osprey;and(l) Passerine/song birds (including Water thrush).

4.4.4.4 Land and Resource Use

The Proponent shall describe relevant land and resource use within thestudy area of the VECs, including the following:

(a) Present and potential timber resource logging and utilization(commercial and domestic);

(b) Current use of land and resources (including aquatic resources)by Aboriginal persons for traditional purposes, includinglocation of camps, harvested species and transportation routes;

(c) Current use of land and resources (including aquatic resources)by other land users;

(d) Other rural land and resource use including existing andpotential recreational and commercial fishing and hunting,gathering of country food and collection of plant propagules;

(e) Current navigation (e.g., vessel/boat traffic) and winter travel onthe river;

(f) Location and description of unique sites or special features,including any candidate sites for ecological or cultural heritagepreservation and conservation, Environmentally Sensitive Areas,reserves or protected areas, conservation agreement lands andhabitat enhancement projects; and

(g) Landscapes, including aesthetic quality and effects on riveraesthetics.

4.4.4,5 Cultural Heritage Resources

The Proponent shall describe relevant cultural heritage resources in thestudy areas of the VECs, including the following:

(a) Cultural heritage sites;(b) Historic and archaeological resources;(c) Paleontological resources; and

EIS Guidelines - Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Project

29

(d) Architectural resources.

4.4.4.6 Communities

The Proponent shall describe relevant community elements in the studyareas of the VECs, including the following:

(a) Demographics;(b) Community services and infrastructure

. Health services and social programs (e.g., drug addiction,delinquency);

(c) Human health. Occurrence and trends in chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes,

cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease andcancer), infectious disease, mental illness, addictions andquality of life

r Dietary changes that could lead to health risks frommethylmercury (MeHg)

. Drinking water sources and quality;(d) Community health;(e) Family life;(f) Safety;(g) Culture;(h) Education and Training;(i) Housing and accommodation; andO Property value and land use, including within and adjacent to

planned future reservoirs.

As the Project is likely to result in an increase in mercury (Hg)concentrations in fish, the Proponent shall assess the human health riskassociated with mercury exposure.

This assessment should consider the presence of contaminants in fish (foreach species of interest for human consumption) in the study area, includingthe variations based on fish size and weight, as well as representative fishconsumption data for the consumers affected by the Project. The Proponentshall identify the species of fish and specific portions of the fish that areconsumed by humans and determine baseline mercury concentrations in thespecies and tissues expected to be consumed by humans. The Proponentshall also take into account the recommended consumption standards. It isrecommended that the Proponent use recognized toxicological referencevalues. The calculation of mercury exposure should take into account thepossible contribution of other local sources, in particular traditional food(e.g., predators of contaminated fish or waterfowl) and discuss thecumulative effect of the contribution of these other sources.

In addition, the Proponent shall:(a) Characterize the current

location, frequency, andcommunities and within

fishing patterns, including fishingvariability in consumption betweena single community and determine

EIS Guidelines - Lower Churchill Hydroelectric Generation Proiect

30

whether this pattern may change following the construction ofthe dams;

(b) Develop a baseline of MeHg exposure of the local humanpopulation in general and of groups at risk, in particular childrenand toddlers, and women of childbearing age, which can beaccomplished through dietary surveys and human hair sampling;

(c) Present and justift the period deemed adequate to reduce thequantity of mercury ingested and consider the toxicological risk,on sensitive human populations, associated with theconsumption of large quantities of fish (e.g., during a weekendof f ishing);

(d) Discuss the views of local human populations regarding mercuryand its influence on the changes observed in their diet andconsequently on their health in general;

(e) Review the results of the research undertaken in the region asrelevant. This review shall outline cument knowledge andcontribute to a better understanding of the evolution of mercuryexposure among local human populations; and

(f) Present the health effects of very long-term exposure to mercuryat concentrations that are generally below those producingnoticeable effects and discuss existing consumption standards.

The collection of baseline data of MeHg exposure of the local humanpopulation should be completed, including a review by Aboriginal groupsand appropriate government agencies, before the Proponent changes theconditions of the Churchill River in any way that could affect mercuryconcentrations.

4.4.4.7 Economy, Employment and Business

The Proponent shall describe relevant economy, employment and businesselements in the study areas of the VECs, including the fol lowing:

(a) Economy of Upper Lake Melville, Labrador and the Provincer Taxes and royalties;r Effects on gross domestic product;

(b) Employment in Upper Lake Melville, Labrador and theProvince;

(c) Skil led and unskil led labour supply in Upper Lake Melvi l le,Labrador and the Province;

(d) Expenditures in Upper Lake Melville, Labrador and theProvince:

(e) Availability of skilled and unskilled labour;(f) Employment equity and diversity including under-represented

groups (e.g., women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginalgroups);

(g) Business capacity;. Goods and services;

(h) Agriculture;(i) Outfitting;

EIS Guidelines - Lower Churchill Hvdroelectric Generation Proiect