Description

This is to advise that on 22 December 2022, Natural Forces Developments LP registered an Additional Information Addendum for the Westchester Wind Project for environmental assessment, in accordance with Part IV of the Environment Act.

Natural Forces Developments LP is developing and will own and operate the Project in partnership with Wskijnu'k Mtmo'taqnuow Agency Limited, a corporate body wholly owned by the 13 Mi'kmaw bands in Nova Scotia. The purpose of the proposed undertaking is to construct up to 12 wind turbines for a wind energy project located in Cumberland County, approximately 17 km southeast of Oxford, NS. The Project will produce up to 50 MW of renewable energy from wind turbines that are up to 200 m tall to the tip of the blade and individually produce up to 6.2 MW. Construction would start in the winter of 2023 at the earliest. The Project is expected to be operational for a minimum of 25 years starting in 2025.

On 23 February 2022, Natural Forces Developments Limited first registered the Westchester Wind Project for Environmental Assessment. On 14 April 2022, the Minister determined that the registration information was insufficient to make a decision, and that additional information was required regarding flora and fauna, including Species at Risk and their habitat, wetlands, fish and fish habitat, landscape-scale biodiversity, noise and heritage resources.

Minister's Decision

On 13 February 2023, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change released a decision (PDF) concerning the review of the Westchester Wind Project. The Minister has decided to approve the undertaking in accordance with Section 13(1)b of the Environmental Assessment Regulations, pursuant to Part IV of the Environment Act. The undertaking has been approved subject to a number of conditions (PDF).

Project Documents

• Minister's Decision, Approval (PDF:163k)
• Conditions (PDF:202k)
• Comments – Addendum (PDF:2.1mb)
• Public Notice - Addendum (PDF:117k)
• Ministers Decision EA Registration (PDF:150k)
• EA Registration Comments Part 1 (PDF:13.3mb)
• EA Registration Comments Part 2 (PDF:18.8mb)
• EA Registration Comments Part 3 (PDF:19.8mb)
• Public Notice (PDF:70k)

Addendum

• EA Addendum Part 1 (PDF:8.3mb)
• EA Addendum Part 2 (PDF:8.2mb)
• EA Addendum Part 3 (PDF:9.4mb)
• EA Addendum Part 4 (PDF:9.1mb)
• EA Addendum Part 5 (PDF:8.4mb)
• EA Addendum Part 6 (PDF:9.4mb)
• EA Addendum Part 7 (PDF:7.4mb)
• EA Addendum Part 8 (PDF:5.1mb)
• EA Addendum Part 9 (PDF:9.7mb)
• EA Addendum Part 10 (updated figures included) (PDF:35.5mb)
• EA Addendum Part 11 (PDF:5.6mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix A Regulators Comments (PDF:218k)
• EA Addendum Appendix B Vegetation and Lichen Surveys (PDF:17.4mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix C Wildlife Survey (PDF:17mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix D Wetland Assessment (PDF:27.7mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix E Watercourses and Fish Habitat Survey (PDF:25.5mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix F Turtle Survey (PDF:7.1mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix G Bird and Bird Habitat (PDF:19.9mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix H 2022 Radar and Acoustic Monitoring Report (PDF:2.6mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix I Bat Survey (PDF:13.4mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix J Moose Survey (PDF:10.2mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix K ACCDC Reports (PDF:2mb)
• EA Addendum Appendix L Sound Level Assessment (PDF:253k)
• EA Addendum Appendix N Adaptive Management Plan (PDF:657k)
• EA Addendum Appendix O EEMP (PDF:552k)
• EA Addendum Appendix P Complaint Resolution Plan (PDF:598k)

Registration

• Cover Letter and Table of Concordance (PDF:102k)
• EA Registration Document TOC and Section 1 (PDF:497k)
• EA Registration Document Section 2 (PDF:9mb)
• EA Registration Document Section 3 (PDF:80k)
• EA Registration Document Section 4  (PDF:146k)
• EA Registration Document Section 5 (PDF:3.8mb)
• EA Registration Document Section 6.1 (PDF:9.2mb)
• EA Registration Document Section 6.2 (PDF:5.7mb)
• EA Registration Document Sections 6.3 and 6.4 (PDF:5.3mb)
• EA Registration Document Section 7 (PDF:321k)
• EA Registration Document Section 8 (PDF:151k)
• EA Registration Document Sections 9 to 14 (PDF:151k)
• Appendix A (PDF:24.2mb)
• Appendix B (PDF:9.3mb)
• Appendix C (PDF:13.8mb)
• Appendix D (PDF:17.2mb)
• Appendix E (PDF:17.5mb)
• Appendix F (PDF:12.5mb)
• Appendix G (PDF:17.9mb)
• Appendix H (PDF:11mb)
• Appendix I (PDF:12.7mb)
• Appendix J (PDF:4.5mb)
• Appendix K (PDF:10.8mb)
• Appendix L (PDF:1.6mb)
• Appendix M (PDF:12.4mb)
• Appendix O (PDF:10.3mb)
• Appendix P (PDF:3.5mb)

Opportunities for Public Input

Public comments on the Addendum were accepted until 31 January 2023.

All comments received from the public consultation are posted on the department's website for public viewing. In the case of an individual, the address, email and contact information were removed before being placed on the website.