Active Management of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site – Public comments invited from August 3 to September 10, 2021

August 3, 2021 – Parks Canada must decide whether the proposed project Active Management of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. Parks Canada will be assessing this project using a Detailed Impact Assessment.

To help inform this decision, Parks Canada is issuing this notice of intent to make a determination and inviting comments from the public on the project's potential effects on the environment as the public consultation for this proposal. All comments received will be considered public. For more information on the public nature of your comments, individuals should consult the Privacy Notice on the Registry website.

In order to submit comments or request a copy of the draft Detailed Impact Assessment report, contact:

Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
P.O. Box 236 Maitland Bridge, Nova Scotia B0T 1B0
Telephone: 902-682-2770
Email: pc.LetsTalkKejimkujik.pc@canada.ca

Comments must be submitted by September 10, 2021.

Project Summary: Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site propose to manage a Hemlock Woolly Adelgid infestation using a combination of silvicultural and chemical control methods, which include the use of neonicotinoids. The management of the infestation has the potential to alter the ecological integrity and cultural landscapes of the protected area and Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site is culturally important to the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia. The proposal will be assessed using Parks Canada's detailed impact assessment pathway.

Scope of Assessment: The Detailed Impact Assessment will assess the impacts of the active management of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid on the Park's ecological integrity, commemorative integrity, species at risk, and visitor experience values. To assess these, it will consider whether accepting the proposal as-is, versus other alternatives including a "no-go" alternative, will best meet the Park's overarching goal of maintaining a healthy forest ecosystem. It will additionally assess the implications of the proposal on values of importance to the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia, including the traditional use of eastern hemlock.