APPENDIX D BIOPHYSICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT (Envirosphere Consultants Ltd., 2015) Environmental Assessment Registration Document for Seabrook Quarry Expansion Seabrook, Digby County, Nova Scotia Biophysical Assessment of the Seabrook Quarry Expansion— 11621 Hwy 217 Seabrook, Digby County, Nova Scotia PID 30132740, 30192975 & 30284483 Submitted to: Municipal Enterprises Limited Bedford, Nova Scotia September 2015 Biophysical Description and Assessment for i Seabrook Quarry Expansion, September 2015 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Information Sources .............................................................................................................................. 1 3 Site Location and Study Area ............................................................................................................... 1 4 Existing Environment ........................................................................................................................... 3 4.1 Physical Environment ................................................................................................................... 3 4.1.1 Climate and Winds ................................................................................................................ 3 4.1.2 Topography and Geology...................................................................................................... 4 4.1.3 Air Quality, Noise & Light ................................................................................................... 6 4.1.4 Hydrology ............................................................................................................................. 7 4.1.5 Hydrogeology ........................................................................................................................ 8 4.1.6 Soils ...................................................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Biological Resources and Habitat ................................................................................................. 9 4.2.1 Terrestrial Environment ........................................................................................................ 9 4.2.2 Aquatic Environment .......................................................................................................... 13 4.2.3 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................... 15 4.2.4 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................. 15 4.2.5 Fish & Fish Habitat ............................................................................................................. 20 4.2.6 Birds .................................................................................................................................... 20 4.2.7 Mammals ............................................................................................................................. 23 4.2.8 Reptiles and Amphibians .................................................................................................... 24 4.2.9 Species at Risk .................................................................................................................... 24 4.2.10 Natural Areas & Wilderness ............................................................................................... 30 4.3 Human Uses of the Environment ................................................................................................ 30 4.3.1 Mi’kmaq .............................................................................................................................. 30 4.3.2 Population and Economy .................................................................................................... 31 4.3.3 Water Supply and Residential Wells .................................................................................. 32 4.3.4 Land Use ............................................................................................................................. 33 4.3.5 Hunting and Trapping ......................................................................................................... 33 4.3.6 Forestry ............................................................................................................................... 34 4.3.7 Recreational, Commercial, and Mi’Kmaq Fishing ............................................................. 35 4.3.8 Historical, Archaeological and Palaeontological Resources .............................................. 35 4.3.9 Parks and Protected Areas .................................................................................................. 36 4.3.10 Recreational/Cultural Features ........................................................................................... 36 4.3.11 Residential Use ................................................................................................................... 36 4.3.12 Commercial/Industrial Development .................................................................................. 37 4.3.13 Tourism and Viewscape ...................................................................................................... 37 4.3.14 Transportation ..................................................................................................................... 38 5 Environmental Impacts, Significance, and Mitigation ....................................................................... 38 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Biophysical Description and Assessment for ii Seabrook Quarry Expansion, September 2015 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 5.1 Assessment Approach and Methods ........................................................................................... 38 5.2 Valued Environmental Components ........................................................................................... 38 5.3 Socioeconomic Impacts .............................................................................................................. 39 5.3.1 Mi’Kmaq ............................................................................................................................. 39 5.3.2 Recreational Activities ........................................................................................................ 39 5.3.3 Tourism and Viewscape ...................................................................................................... 40 5.3.4 Recreational, Commercial & Mi’Kmaq Fishing ................................................................. 40 5.3.5 Archaeological/Cultural/Historical ..................................................................................... 40 5.3.6 Land Use and Value ............................................................................................................ 40 5.3.7 Transportation ..................................................................................................................... 41 5.3.8 Residential Use ................................................................................................................... 41 5.3.9 Commercial/Industrial Use ................................................................................................. 41 5.3.10 Water Supplies and Residential Wells ................................................................................ 42 5.3.11 Parks and Protected Areas .................................................................................................. 42 5.3.12 Resource Use—Forestry, Hunting & Trapping .................................................................. 42 5.3.13 Agriculture & Mink Ranching ............................................................................................ 42 5.4 Biophysical Impacts––Impacts of the Project on the Environment ............................................ 43 5.4.1 Air Quality, Noise, and Light ............................................................................................. 43 5.4.2 Hydrogeology ...................................................................................................................... 44 5.4.3 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................... 44 5.4.4 Water Quality ...................................................................................................................... 44 5.4.5 Freshwater Aquatic Environments ...................................................................................... 45 5.4.6 Wetlands ............................................................................................................................. 45 5.4.7 Fish and Fish Habitat .......................................................................................................... 46 5.4.8 Flora and Fauna and Habitat ............................................................................................... 46 5.4.9 Species at Risk ...................................................................................................................