Environmental Impact Statement Long Harbour Commercial Nickel Processing Plant Volume 2 Biophysical Environment Vale Inco Newfoundland & Labrador Limited Suite W200, Bally Rou Place 280 Torbay Road St. John’s, NL A1A 3W8 April 2008 This page is intentionally blank. Table of Contents Page 1.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 1-1 2.0 Existing Environment...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Atmospheric Environment........................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1.1 Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5)............................................................................. 2-2 2.1.2 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)................................................................................................... 2-3 2.1.3 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) .................................................................................................... 2-3 2.1.4 Existing Noise Levels ...................................................................................................... 2-4 2.2 Terrestrial Environment............................................................................................................ 2-5 2.2.1 Geology and Soils............................................................................................................ 2-5 2.2.2 Vegetation........................................................................................................................ 2-6 2.2.3 Forest Resources............................................................................................................ 2-10 2.2.4 Terrestrial Avifauna....................................................................................................... 2-12 2.2.5 Wildlife .......................................................................................................................... 2-16 2.2.6 Terrestrial Species at Risk ............................................................................................. 2-20 2.3 Freshwater Environment......................................................................................................... 2-27 2.3.1 Surface Water................................................................................................................. 2-27 2.3.2 Groundwater .................................................................................................................. 2-29 2.3.3 Fish Habitat.................................................................................................................... 2-32 2.3.4 Sandy Brook (S26)......................................................................................................... 2-46 2.3.5 Little Rattling Brook (S33) ............................................................................................ 2-52 2.3.6 Freshwater Fish.............................................................................................................. 2-52 2.3.7 Freshwater Fish Species at Risk .................................................................................... 2-55 2.4 Marine Environment............................................................................................................... 2-56 2.4.1 Marine Ecosystem.......................................................................................................... 2-56 2.4.2 Long Harbour Benthic Habitat....................................................................................... 2-67 2.4.3 Macroinvertebrate and Fish Species .............................................................................. 2-68 2.4.4 Bioindicators.................................................................................................................. 2-76 2.4.5 Fish Species at Risk ....................................................................................................... 2-76 2.4.6 Marine-related Avifauna................................................................................................ 2-79 2.4.7 Marine-related Mammals and Sea Turtles..................................................................... 2-95 2.5 Species at Risk...................................................................................................................... 2-113 2.5.1 Provincial Listings ....................................................................................................... 2-113 2.5.2 Federal Listings............................................................................................................ 2-113 2.5.3 COSEWIC Listings...................................................................................................... 2-114 2.5.4 Species Profiles............................................................................................................ 2-115 Vale Inco NL Commercial Nickel Processing Plant EIS – Volume 2 – Biophysical Environment i 3.0 Assessment Methods ........................................................................................................................ 3-1 3.1 Scope......................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 Information Base and Supporting Studies ................................................................................ 3-1 3.3 Boundaries ................................................................................................................................ 3-2 3.3.1 Temporal.......................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.3.2 Spatial .............................................................................................................................. 3-2 3.4 Biophysical Effects Assessment ............................................................................................... 3-4 3.4.1 Evaluation Criteria........................................................................................................... 3-8 3.4.2 Cumulative Effects Assessment..................................................................................... 3-10 3.4.3 Residual Environmental Effects.................................................................................... 3-10 3.4.4 Likelihood of Occurrence of Significant Effects........................................................... 3-11 3.5 Accidental Events Assessment ............................................................................................... 3-11 3.6 Follow-up and Monitoring...................................................................................................... 3-12 3.7 Other Projects Used for Cumulative Effects Assessment....................................................... 3-12 3.7.1 Vale Inco NL Activities................................................................................................. 3-12 3.7.2 Oil Transshipment Facility ............................................................................................ 3-12 3.7.3 Come By Chance Oil Refinery ...................................................................................... 3-13 3.7.4 Burin Peninsula Ship Yards........................................................................................... 3-13 3.7.5 Commercial Fish Industry (including aquaculture) ....................................................... 3-13 3.7.6 Argentia Marine Terminal ............................................................................................. 3-13 3.7.7 Hunting and Trapping.................................................................................................... 3-14 3.7.8 Forestry .......................................................................................................................... 3-14 3.7.9 Proposed Oil Refinery.................................................................................................... 3-14 3.7.10 Proposed Liquefied Natural Gas Transshipment Terminal ........................................... 3-14 3.7.11 Marine Transportation ................................................................................................... 3-15 4.0 Air Quality Effects Assessment....................................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.2 Assessment Criteria.................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.3 Issues and Concerns.................................................................................................................. 4-1 4.4 Existing Knowledge.................................................................................................................. 4-2 4.5 Effects of Construction ............................................................................................................. 4-2 4.5.1 Air Emissions................................................................................................................... 4-5 4.5.2 Mitigation......................................................................................................................... 4-5 4.5.3 Residual Effects..............................................................................................................