ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT REGISTRATION MOUNT CARLETON GROOMING HUB PROJECT NB DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, HERITAGE AND CULTURE Our File No.: 347-16-C August 16, 2016 Prepared for: New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture Trails and Infrastructure P.O. Box 6000 Fredericton, NB E3B 5H1 Prepared by: Mount Carleton Grooming Hub Tourism, Heritage and Culture TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. THE PROPONENT .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Name of Proponent ....................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Address of Proponent .................................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Chief Executive Officer ................................................................................................................ 1 1.4 Principal Contact Persons for the Purposes of the Environmental Impact Assessment ................ 1 1.5 Property Ownership ...................................................................................................................... 1 2. THE UNDERTAKING ........................................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Name of the Undertaking .............................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Project Overview .......................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Purpose/Rationale/Need for the Undertaking ............................................................................... 2 2.4 Project Location ............................................................................................................................ 3 2.5 Siting Considerations .................................................................................................................... 6 2.6 Physical Components and Dimensions of the Undertaking .......................................................... 7 2.6.1 Construction, Operation and Maintenance Details ....................................................................... 8 2.6.2 Site Preparation (Late Summer/Autumn) ........................................................................... 8 2.6.3 Construction (Summer/Autumn) ........................................................................................ 8 2.6.4 Operation and Maintenance (Winter*) ............................................................................. 10 2.7 Future Modifications, Extensions or Abandonments .................................................................. 11 2.8 Project-Related Documents......................................................................................................... 11 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ................................................................. 14 3.1 General ........................................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Geology ....................................................................................................................................... 14 3.3 Topography ................................................................................................................................. 15 3.4 Atmosphere ................................................................................................................................. 15 3.5 Surface water .............................................................................................................................. 16 3.6 Groundwater ............................................................................................................................... 18 3.7 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................... 18 3.8 Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................... 18 3.9 Environmentally Significant Areas ............................................................................................. 19 3.10 Archaeological and Heritage Resources ..................................................................................... 20 3.11 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................... 20 3.12 Labour and Economy .................................................................................................................. 20 4 POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ................................................................................ 21 4.1 Atmospheric Quality ................................................................................................................... 21 4.1.1 Air Quality .................................................................................................................................. 22 4.1.2 Noise Pollution ............................................................................................................................ 23 4.1.3 Light Pollution ............................................................................................................................ 24 4.2 Surface Water .............................................................................................................................. 24 4.3 Groundwater ............................................................................................................................... 25 4.4 Vegetation ................................................................................................................................... 25 4.5 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ..................................................................................................... 25 Mount Carleton Grooming Hub Tourism, Heritage and Culture 4.5.1 Migratory Birds ........................................................................................................................... 25 4.5.2 Mammals..................................................................................................................................... 26 4.5.3 Amphibians and Invertebrates .................................................................................................... 26 4.6 Species at Risk ............................................................................................................................ 26 4.6.1 Species at Risk – Birds ............................................................................................................... 28 4.6.2 Species at Risk – Mammals ........................................................................................................ 29 4.7 Environmentally Significant Areas ............................................................................................. 29 4.8 Archaeological and Heritage Resources ..................................................................................... 35 4.9 Land Use ..................................................................................................................................... 35 4.10 Public Safety ............................................................................................................................... 35 4.11 Labour and Economy .................................................................................................................. 36 5 MITIGATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ........................................................................ 37 5.1 Atmospheric Quality ................................................................................................................... 37 5.1.1 Light Pollution ............................................................................................................................ 37 5.2 Groundwater Quality .................................................................................................................. 38 5.3 Wildlife-Mammals ...................................................................................................................... 39 5.4 Public Health and Safety ............................................................................................................. 39 6 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS ................................................................................................................ 41 7 STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................. 41 8 FIRST NATIONS .............................................................................................................................. 42 9 APPROVAL OF THE UNDERTAKING .......................................................................................... 42 9.1 Provincial .................................................................................................................................... 42 9.2 Federal......................................................................................................................................... 42 10 Funding............................................................................................................................................... 42 11 CLOSURE .........................................................................................................................................