It has been hard to go a day without news about the proposed infilling of Long Pond estuary by Ocean Choice International (OCI). The evolving story has many angles: the sale of a 12-acre waterlot (land under the water), deemed “unusable land” by the Long Pond Harbour Authority, for $1 to OCI; the potential destruction of a productive and diverse estuarine ecosystem with an abundance of aquatic plants and animals; the lack of an environmental assessment (EA); an 11th-hour disclosure of conflict of interest by Conception Bay South Mayor Terry French; a horrendous public consultation effort by the Town of C.B.S., acknowledged by the deputy mayor. The list goes on.
How, in 2020, could something like this go on in Newfoundland and Labrador without getting every elected official — federal, provincial and municipal — demanding an EA? What is the downside of pressing pause to ascertain that the impact on the environment is worth the upside to a private, for-profit corporation? Why not carefully put risks and rewards on the balance and see how it all looks, objectively?
How can a provincial government decide not to deem an area an estuary when it clearly is?
The province’s newly named Department of Environment, Climate Change and Municipalities, with Minister Derek Bennett at the helm since late August, has given the go-ahead without triggering an EA as it does not consider Long Pond to be an estuary.
In current regulations, an estuary mandates that an EA be completed. An estuary is well defined and there is little debate as to what it is or is not. Various experts have already weighed in on the Advocates for the Responsible Development of Long Pond Facebook group page. The area description as an estuary has been corroborated by professionals in the field and shared with the Department of Environment in recent appeals.
How can a provincial government decide not to deem an area an estuary when it clearly is?
The Department of Environment has said that it has its own “departmental understanding” of an estuary that it applied when permit applications were first submitted. Subsequently, the department has suggested that “numerous other infilling projects in the area had not triggered an EA.” While I don’t know of any such projects, the fact that previous mistakes may have been made does not excuse this current decision. Although smaller projects may have flown under the radar, it is not surprising that a proposal to infill such a large portion of the estuary attracted enough concern to call this decision by government into question by residents and other interested stakeholders.
We too often think of “environment” or “environmental assessment” as the domain of tree huggers, walking sticks and Birkenstocks. Think again.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Environmental Protection Act states that the purpose of an EA is to protect the environment and quality of life of the people of the province and facilitate the wise management of its natural resources.
Completing an EA would ensure that all adverse effects are considered and properly mitigated. The public has the right to understand and input on all aspects of this project.
This recent decision by the provincial government is, in my opinion, a failure of government to apply the regulations in place. It demonstrates disrespect for its priorities and its mandate. This decision is in such contrast to the sign of the times — focus on climate change, erosion and pollution — yet this government is willing to take a fully functioning estuarine ecosystem and toss it out the window to satisfy who, what and why?
We need to ask questions now before it is too late.
It has been reported that OCI plans to begin infilling “as soon as possible.” We must take a step back and consider this carefully. Once we lose the estuary, it’s gone. There is no undo!
If allowed to proceed, the legacy of this shirking of duty will forever reflect on the current Liberal government, the premier and minister that allowed it to go ahead. Recent court cases have shown the government repeatedly lose to environmental concerns, as it should. The government should realize that it can’t circumvent its own regulations. And why risk it? Why not choose now as the right time to be cautious and careful?
Pierre Gauvreau
Conception Bay South
