NALCOR ENERGY LABRADOR‐ISLAND TRANSMISSION LINK ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT Chapter 3 Project Description April 2012 Labrador‐Island Transmission Link Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Project Description TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION PAGE 3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION .................................................................................................................................. 3‐1 3.1 Project Overview ................................................................................................................................ 3‐1 5 3.2 Project Location ................................................................................................................................. 3‐3 3.3 Project Components and Layout ...................................................................................................... 3‐10 3.3.1 Muskrat Falls Converter Station ............................................................................................ 3‐10 3.3.2 Transmission Line ................................................................................................................. 3‐12 3.3.2.1 Muskrat Falls uto Fortea Point ........................................................................................ 3‐13 10 3.3.2.2 Strait of Belle Isle Submarine Cable Crossing ................................................................. 3‐25 3.3.2.3 Shoal Cove to Soldiers Pond ........................................................................................... 3‐28 3.3.3 Soldiers Pond Converter Station, ac Switchyard, and Synchronous Condenser Yard ............ 3‐34 3.3.4 Shoreline Electrodes ............................................................................................................. 3‐36 3.3.4.1 L’Anse au Diable Shoreline Electrode ............................................................................. 3‐38 15 3.3.4.2 Dowden’s Point Shoreline Electrode .............................................................................. 3‐41 3.3.5 Island System Upgrades ........................................................................................................ 3‐44 3.3.6 Telecommunications Systems ............................................................................................... 3‐44 3.4 Construction .................................................................................................................................... 3‐45 3.4.1 Construction Schedule .......................................................................................................... 3‐45 20 3.4.1.1 Public Notification of Construction Activities ................................................................. 3‐45 3.4.2 Construction Infrastructure .................................................................................................. 3‐47 3.4.2.1 Access .............................................................................................................................. 3‐47 3.4.2.2 Water Crossings .............................................................................................................. 3‐48 3.4.2.3 Construction Accommodations ...................................................................................... 3‐49 25 3.4.2.4 Marshalling Yards and Lay Down Areas .......................................................................... 3‐52 3.4.2.5 Quarries and Borrow Material ........................................................................................ 3‐55 3.4.2.6 Concrete Production ....................................................................................................... 3‐56 3.4.3 Construction Activities and Sequence ................................................................................... 3‐56 3.4.3.1 Converter Stations .......................................................................................................... 3‐56 30 3.4.3.2 Transmission Line ............................................................................................................ 3‐58 3.4.3.3 Strait of Belle Isle Cable Crossing .................................................................................... 3‐61 3.4.3.4 Electrodes ....................................................................................................................... 3‐66 3.4.3.5 Island System Upgrades .................................................................................................. 3‐67 3.4.3.6 Clean‐up and Reclamation .............................................................................................. 3‐68 35 3.4.4 Construction Equipment ....................................................................................................... 3‐68 3.4.5 Material Requirements and Delivery .................................................................................... 3‐69 3.4.6 Decommissioning of Construction Infrastructure ................................................................. 3‐70 3.4.6.1 Temporary Camps ........................................................................................................... 3‐70 3.4.6.2 Access Roads and Bridges ............................................................................................... 3‐70 40 3.4.6.3 Borrow Pits ...................................................................................................................... 3‐70 3.4.6.4 Marshalling Yards and Temporary Lay Down Areas ....................................................... 3‐70 3.4.6.5 Clean‐up and Reclamation .............................................................................................. 3‐70 3.5 Operations and Maintenance .......................................................................................................... 3‐71 3.5.1 Operations ............................................................................................................................ 3‐71 45 3.5.2 Maintenance ......................................................................................................................... 3‐71 3.5.2.1 Inspection ........................................................................................................................ 3‐71 April 2012 Page i Labrador‐Island Transmission Link Environmental Impact Statement Chapter 3 Project Description 3.5.2.2 Maintenance and Repairs ............................................................................................... 3‐71 3.5.2.3 Vegetation Management ................................................................................................ 3‐72 3.5.3 Potential Emissions ............................................................................................................... 3‐73 3.5.3.1 Overhead Transmission Line and Converter Stations ..................................................... 3‐73 5 3.5.3.2 Submarine Cable and Electrodes .................................................................................... 3‐75 3.5.4 Decommissioning .................................................................................................................. 3‐78 3.6 Environmental Protection Planning ................................................................................................. 3‐79 3.6.1 Environmental Protection Plan ............................................................................................. 3‐79 3.6.2 Safety, Health and Environmental Emergency Response Plan .............................................. 3‐80 10 3.6.3 Environmental Inspection ..................................................................................................... 3‐81 3.7 Project Workforce ............................................................................................................................ 3‐81 3.7.1 Construction Workforce ....................................................................................................... 3‐81 3.7.2 Operations and Maintenance Workforce ............................................................................. 3‐83 3.7.3 Workforce Demand Profiles by National Occupation Classification Code ............................. 3‐83 15 3.7.3.1 Methodological Considerations ...................................................................................... 3‐84 3.8 Project Cost and Expenditures ......................................................................................................... 3‐91 3.9 References ....................................................................................................................................... 3‐93 20 LIST OF TABLES Table 3.3.1‐1 Muskrat Falls Converter Station Equipment ..................................................................... 3‐10 Table 3.3.2‐1 Transmission Tower Types ................................................................................................ 3‐20 Table 3.3.2‐2 Detailed Meteorological Zones Between Muskrat Falls and Soldiers Pond including Zone Criteria ....................................................................................................... 3‐21 25 Table 3.3.2‐3 Preliminary Estimate of Number and Types of Towers to be Constructed Between Muskrat Falls and Forteau Point ........................................................................ 3‐24 Table 3.3.2‐4 Number and Types of Towers to be Constructed Between the Shoal Cove and Soldiers Pond ....................................................................................................................