Chapter 12 - Marine Fish and Habitat

12.3 Residual Environmental Effects

It should be noted that habitat components consist primarily of water and sediments but also include lower tropic level food sources such as phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic infauna, and epifauna. Populations in the following definitions refer primarily to those species within the Assessment Area and described in Section 12.1.1. These species are primarily molluscs (such as blue mussels and clams), and fish, (such as sculpins and sandlance).

The definitions for the ratings for residual environmental effects follow:

A major (significant) residual environmental effect is one which affects a portion of the marine habitat in the Marine Fish and Habitat Assessment Area in such a way as to cause a change in the habitat component (water, sediment, food source) and therefore cause a change in abundance and/or distribution of a whole stock or population of a species beyond which natural recruitment (reproduction and immigration from unaffected areas) would not return that population, or any population or species dependent upon it, to its former level within several generations.

A moderate (significant) residual environmental effect is one which affects a portion of the marine habitat in the Marine Fish and Habitat Assessment Area in such a way as to cause a change in the habitat component (water, sediment, food source) and therefore cause a change in abundance and/or distribution of a portion of a population over one or more generations of that portion of the population, or any population or species dependent upon it, but does not change the integrity of any population as a whole; it may be localized.

A minor (not significant) residual environmental effect is one which affects a portion of the marine habitat in the Marine Fish and Habitat Assessment Area in such a way as to cause a change in the habitat component (water, sediment, food source) and therefore cause a change to a specific group of individuals in a population at a localized area and/or over a short period (one generation or less), but not affecting other trophic levels or the integrity of the population itself.

A negligible (not significant) residual environmental effect is one which affects a portion of the marine habitat in the Marine Fish and Habitat Assessment Area in such a way as to cause a change in the habitat component (water, sediment, food source) and therefore cause a change affecting the population or specific group of individuals at a localized area and/or over a short period in such a way as to be similar to small random changes in the population due to natural variations, but having no detectable environmental effect on the population as a whole.

Residual environmental effects include habitat alteration due to wharf construction, accumulation of dissolved metals in the sediment, uptake of metals by marine biota, and the potential for accidental oil or concentrate spills into the marine environment. The residual environmental effects, including cumulative environmental effects remaining after mitigation, are listed in Table 12.13.

Table 12.13 Residual Environmental Effects

Project Phase	Residual Environmental Effect(s)	Significance	Likelihood^a	Sustainable Use (Capacity) of Renewable Resources^a
construction	habitat alteration	negligible (not significant)	n/a	n/a
operation	accumulation of metals in the marine sediment and metal uptake by marine biota	minor (not significant)	n/a	n/a
decommissioning	metals from seepage	negligible (not significant)	n/a	n/a
post-decommissioning	metals from seepage and run-off	negligible (not significant)	n/a	n/a
accidental events	concentrate or fuel spill failure of containment	moderate (significant)	low	high
^a likelihood and sustainable use of renewable resources are only defined for environmental effects that are significant (moderate or major) (CEAA 1994: 84, 187)

12.3.1 Construction

Potential adverse environmental effects during construction are limited to habitat alteration and loss during port facility construction. This will have a negligible (not significant) residual environmental effect because only a small area will be modified. Residual environmental effects of sedimentation will be short-term. The area of Edward's Cove where the port will be built does not have critical or unique habitat.

12.3.2 Operation

Marine fish and habitat may be affected by the discharge of treated effluent into Edward's Cove and Kangeklualuk Bay. This effluent discharge will be diluted to the range of ambient metal concentrations within 2-3 km of the diffuser location in each bay. Modelling has predicted that the input of the effluent, with its associated metals, will not have a detectable residual environmental effect on the species using the water and sediment within the environmental assessment boundary. The presence of metals in the water column and the accumulation of metals in sediments, which are available for uptake by biota, will have a minor (not significant) effect on all marine populations. Potential residual environmental effects will be localized within Edward's Cove and Kangeklualuk Bay. They include potentially reduced productivity on and in spatially limited areas of bottom sediments due to accumulation of metals on the sediment. There is also potential for benthic species of molluscs and fish to accumulate metals, but not to levels where they may have residual environmental effects. Residual environmental effects during the operational phase of the Project are predicted to be minor (not significant).

12.3.3 Decommissioning

Decommissioning activities may result in potential effects such as site runoff, runoff of accumulated water from Headwater Pond, and possible seepage of water from the North Tailings Basin through containment dams. Assuming the runoff water is affected by pH changes and dissolved metals are at MMLER limits, there is potential for biological uptake of metals from the water column and through sediments, but not to levels where they may have adverse biological effects. These potential residual environmental effects are predicted to be negligible (not significant) within the environmental assessment boundary.

12.3.4 Post-Decommissioning

Seepage from tailings into Throat Bay will introduce dissolved metals into the marine environment. However, metal concentrations in marine fish and shellfish up to 140 years after the start of the Project are predicted not to have deleterious effects. A negligible (not significant) residual environmental effect on marine fish and habitat is predicted.

12.3.5 Accidental Events

Accidental events are characterized as a large, acute influx of concentrate, oil or solid/liquid effluent. The potential residual environmental effects of all accidental events will be localized within the environmental assessment boundary and are not anticipated to change the integrity of any marine population as a whole.

A concentrate spill in the marine environment would smother the benthic community in a localized area, but clean-up efforts would minimize the potential for the accumulation of metals in marine biota. An oil spill would have the most lasting impact on sandy shorelines where the oil would take longer to biodegrade. Oil spill trajectory modelling indicates localized environmental effects within the Assessment Area.

Accidental events, would have a moderate (significant) residual environmental effect on marine fish and habitat because a large, acute influx of concentrate, oil or solid/liquid effluent could possibly occur over a short time period. The likelihood of this event is low, however, considering the EPP in place. The sustainable use after an accidental event is high.

12.3.6 Follow-up Program

Compliance monitoring will consist of end-of-pipe discharge sampling and calculation of a monthly arithmetic mean to ensure discharges meet maximum allowable concentrations. Compliance monitoring of treated sewage discharge may be required under the Newfoundland Environmental Control (Water and Sewage) Regulations 1980. The process for monitoring and follow-up is outlined in Chapter 4.

12.4 References

Literature Cited

Aitken, A., M.J. Risk and J.D. Howard. 1988. Animal-sediment relationships of a subarctic intertidal flat, Pangnirtung Fjord, Baffin Island. Can. J. Sed. Petrol. 58: 969-978.

AQUAMIN. 1996. Assessment of the Aquatic Effects of Mining in Canada: AQUAMIN Final Report. Prepared for AQUAMIN Steering Group. Environment Canada.

Beak International Incorporated. 1997. Assessment of Potential Contaminant Effects in the Environment, Voisey's Bay Mine Mill. Prepared by Beak International Incorporated, Brampton, ON.

Berrill, N.J. 1959. The Tunicata with an Account of the British Species. The Ray Society, London, United Kingdom. 353p.

Bohn, A. and B.W. Fallis. 1978. Metal concentrations (As, Cd, Pb, Zn) in shorthorn sculpins Myoxocephalus scorpius (Linnaeus) and Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus) from the vicinity of Strathcona Sound, Northwest Territories. Water Res. 12:659.

CCME. 1996. Canadian Water Quality Guidelines. Canadian Council for Ministers of the Environment. Ottawa, Ontario.

Carlton, J.T. 1996. Pattern, process and prediction in marine invasion ecology. Biol. Conserv. 78:97-106.

Carr, R.S., E.R. Long, H.L. Windom, D.C. Chapman, G. Thursby, G.M. Sloane and D.A. Wolfe. 1996. Sediment quality assessment studies of Tampa Bay, Florida. Env. Toxicol. Chem. 15:1218-1231.

Carter, J.A., S.D. MacKnight and C.W. Ross. 1985. The impact of drilling-waste disposal on trace metals in scallop tissue and sediments near Sable Island. Pp. 27-52 In: P.G. Wells and R.F. Addison (eds.). Proceedings of the 10th Annual Aquatic Toxicity Workshop, Nov. 7-10, Halifax, NS. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1368.

Chapman, P.M. 1989. Current approaches to developing sediment quality criteria. Env. Toxicol. Chem. 8:589-599.

Dempson, J.B. and M. Shears. 1995. Status report for northern Labrador Arctic charr stocks in 1994: DFO Atlantic Fisheries Res. Doc. 95/6. 54p.

Environment Canada. 1977. Metal Mining Liquid Effluent Regulations and Guidelines. Report EPS 1-WP-77-1.

Environment Canada. 1992a. Biological Test Method: Acute Test for Sediment Toxicity using Marine or Estuarine Amphipods. Report EPS 1/RM/26. Beauregard Printers Ltd., Ottawa, ON.

Environment Canada. 1992b. Biological Test Method: Fertilization Assays using Echinoids (sea urchins and sand dollars). Environmental Protection Series, Report EPS 1/RM/27, December 1992. Environment Canada. Conversation and Protection, Ottawa, ON.

Environment Canada. 1992c. Biological Test Method: Toxicity using Luminescent Bacertia (photobacterium phosphoreum). Environmental Protection Series, Report EPS 1/RM/24, December 1992. Environment Canada. Conversation and Protection, Ottawa, ON.

Environment Canada. In Prep (1997). Proposed Interim Canadian Sediment Quality Guidelines. Prepared by the Guidelines Division, Science Policy and Environmental Quality Branch, Ecosystem Science Directorate.

EPA/DOA. 1994. Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Discharge in Waters of the U.S. - Testing Manual (DRAFT); Inland Testing Manual. EPA-823-B-94-002. Prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Army (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Washington, DC.

Fauchald, K. 1977. The Polychaete Worms: Definitions and Keys to the Orders, Family and Genera. Natural History Museum, Los Angeles County Science Series 28: 1-128.

Feely, R.A., G.J. Massotha and M.F. Lamb. 1981. The effect of sewage effluents on the flocculation of major and trace elements in a stratified estuary. Pp. 227-224 In: C.S. Wong, E. Boyle, K.W. Bruland, J.D. Burton and E.D. Goldberg (eds.) Trace Metals in Seawater. Plenum Press, New York and London. 920p.

Food and Drug Acts and Regulations, with Amendments to May 26, 1977. Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, ON. 187p.

Gilbert, R. 1984. The movement of gravel by the alga Fucus vesiculosus (L.) on an Arctic intertidal flat. J. Sed. Petrol. 54: 462-468.

Government of Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 1984. Fish Health Protection Regulations.

Government of Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 1991. Fisheries Act.

Government of Canada, Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 1990. Newfoundland Fishery Regulations under the Fisheries Act. Canada Regulation 1978-1557.

Government of Canada, Department of Transportation. 1995. Navigable Waters Protection Act. R.S.,c. N-19, s.1.

Grainger, E.H. and S.I.C. Hsaio. 1982. A study of the ice biota of Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island 1979-1981. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 1647.

Hatch. 1997. Modelling of Nickel and Copper Concentrate Spills in Edward's Cove or at Paul Island for Voisey's Bay Mine Project. Hatch, St. John's, NF.

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. 1978 & 1979. The ICES Coordinated Monitoring Programme for Contaminants on Fish and Shellfish, 1978 and 1979 and Six Year Coordinated Monitoring Program. Cooperative Research Report, No. 126.

Jackson, J.B.C., J.D. Cubit, B.D. Keller, V. Batista, K. Burns, H.M Caffey, R.L. Caldwell, S.D. Garrity, C.D Getter, C. Gonzalez, H.M. Guzman, K.W. Kaufman, A.H. Knap, S.C. Levings, M.J. Marshall, R. Steger, R.C. Thompson and E. Weil. 1989. Ecological effects of a major oil spill on Panamanian coastal marine communities. Science 243: 37-44.

Johnson, L.E. and D.K. Padilla. 1996. Geographic spread of exotic species: ecological lessons and opportunities from the invasion of the zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha. Biol. Conserv. 78:23-33.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997a. Chemical Oceanography Technical Data Report. A report prepared by Jacques Whitford Environment for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997b. Biological Oceanography Technical Data Report. A report prepared by Jacques Whitford Environment for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997c. Marine Sediment Quality Technical Data Report. A report prepared by Jacques Whitford Environment for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997d. Intertidal and Subtidal Technical Data Report. A report prepared by Jacques Whitford Environment for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997e. Marine Fauna Technical Data Report. A report prepared by Jacques Whitford Environment for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997f. Chemical Profiles of Marine Fauna Technical Data Report. A report prepared by Jacques Whitford Environment for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

JWEL (Jacques Whitford Environment Limited). 1997g. Coastal Geomorphology Technical Data Report. A report prepared by Jacques Whitford Environment for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

Kennedy, K.M. and R.J. Benson. 1993. Report of heavy metal analysis conducted on mussel (Mytilus edulis) samples collected at 55 sites in Newfoundland. Inspection Branch, DFO St. John's. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. No. 1937.

Levings, C.D. 1982. The Ecological Consequences of Dredging and Dredge Spoil Disposal in Canadian Waters. Publication NRCC No. 18130 of the Environmental Secretariat. Prepared for the Subcommittee on Water, National Research Council, Ottawa, ON. 142 p.

Levinton, J.S. 1982. Marine Ecology. Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs, NJ. 526p.

Long, E.R. and P.M. Chapman. 1985. A Sediment Quality Triad: measures of sediment contamination, toxicity and infaunal community composition in Puget Sound. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 16: 405-415.

Long, E.R., D.D. MacDonalf, S.L. Smith and F.D. Calder. 1995. Incidence of adverse biological effects within ranges of chemical concentrations in marine and estuarine sediments. Env. Manag. 19:81-97.

Lowry, L.F. and K.J. Frost. 1981. Distribution, growth and food of Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) in the Bering, Chukchi and Beaufort seas. Can. Field Nat. 95:186.

MacDonald, D.D., S.L. Smith, M.P. Wong and P. Mudroch. 1992. The Development and Implementation of Canadian Marine Environmental Quality Guidelines. Prepared for the Interdepartmental Working Group on Marine Environmental Quality Guidelines for the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. Environment Canada, Ottawa, ON.

Martin, J-M. and M. Whitfield. 1981. The significance of the river input of chemical elements to the ocean. Pp. 265-296 In: C.S. Wong, E. Boyle, K.W. Bruland, J.D. Burton and E.D. Goldberg (eds.) Trace Metals in Seawater. Plenum Press, New York and London. 920p.

National Research Council. 1989. Contaminated Marine Sediments - Assessment and remediation. National Academy Press, Washington, D.C. 493p.

NRCC. 1994. National Research Council Canada Cass-3. Nearshore Seawater Reference Material for trace metals.

National Research Council. 1989. Contaminated Marine Sediments - Assessment and Remediation. National Academy Press, Washington, DC. 493 p.

Pesch, C.E., D.J. Hansen, W.S. Boothman, W.J. Berry and J.D. Mahony. 1995. The role of acid-volatile sulfide and interstitial water metal concentrations in determining bioavailability of cadmium and nickel from contaminated sediments to the marine polychaete Neanthes arenaceodentata. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 14: 129-141.

Pocklington, P. 1989. Polychaetes of Eastern Canada; An Illustrated Key to Polychaetes of Eastern Canada. Queen Square, Dartmouth, NS. 233p.

Rescan Environmental Services Limited. 1997. Physical Oceanography of the Voisey's Bay Project Area. A report for Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited.

Rosen, P.S. 1979. Boulder barricades in central Labrador. J. Sed. Petrol. 49: 1113-1124.

Scott, W.B. and M.G. Scott. 1988. Atlantic Fishes of Canada. Can.Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 219: 731p.

Smith, R.W., B.B. Bernstein and R.L. Cimberg. 1988. Community - environmental relationships in the benthos: applications of multivariate techniques. pp. 247-326. In: D.F. Soule and G.S. Kleppel (eds.) Marine Organisms as Indicators. Springer-Verlag, New York, NY.
Smith, S.D.A. and R.D. Simpson. 1992. Monitoring the shallow sublittoral using the fauna of kelp holdfasts. Mar. Poll. Bull. 24: 46-52.

Smith, S.L., D.D. MacDonald, K.A. Keenlyside and C.L. Gaudet. 1996 (in press). The Development and Implementation of Canadian Marine Environmental Quality Guidelines. In: M. Munawar and G. Dave (eds). Development and Progress in Sediment Quality Assessment: Rationale, Challenges, Techniques and Strategies. Ecovision World Monograph Series, Academic Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Stern, E.M. and W.B. Stickle. 1978. Effects of Turbidity and Suspended Material on aquatic environments. Literature Review. Technical Report D-78-2,. Department of the Army Waterways Experimental Stratum, Corps of Engineers. Vicksburg, MI.

Tay, K.L., K.G. Doe, S.J. Wade, D.A. Vaughan, R.E. Berrigan and M.J. Moore. 1992. Sediment bioassessment in Halifax harbour. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 11: 1567-1581.

Thomson, D.H. 1982. Marine benthos in the eastern Canadian high Arctic: Multivariate analyses of standing crop and community structure. Arctic 35: 61-74.

US EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency). 1986. United States Environmental Protection Agency Chronic National Ambient Water Quality Criterion. EPA 440/5-86-004. Washington, D.C.

Warwick, R.M. and K.R. Clarke. 1991. A comparison of some methods for analysing changes in benthic community structure. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. UK 71: 225-244.
Williamson, T. 1997. From Sina to Sikujâluk: Our Footprint, Mapping Inuit Environmental Knowledge in the Nain District of Northern Labrador. Prepared for the Labrador Inuit Association.

Word, J.Q., C.C. Ebgesmeyer, C.D. Boatman, R.E. Finger, S. Fischnaller and Q.J. Stober. 1990. Vertical transport of effluent material to the surface of marine waters. In: Oceanic Processes in Marine Pollution, Volume 6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Cambridge, Mass.

Personnel Communications

Doe, K., Environment Canada, Dartmouth, NS

Pocklington, P., Arenicola Marine, Dartmouth, NS

Appendix 12A

Environmental Effects Assessment Synthesis: Marine Fish and Habitat