Highway 431 and Tablelands Trail Access Road and Parking Lot Renovations – Public comments invited from March 2 to April 1, 2023  

March 2, 2023 – Parks Canada must decide whether the proposed project Highway 431 and Tablelands Trail Access Road and Parking Lot Renovations, located in Gros Morne National Park 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:

Gros Morne National Park

PO Box 130

Rocky Harbour, NL A0K 4N0

grosmorne@pc.gc.ca

709-458-2417

Comments must be submitted by April 1, 2023.

Project Summary: Gros Morne National Park plans to renovate Highway 431 at a location commonly referred to as the "Trout River Gulch" which extends from the community of Woody Point to Trout River, on the island of Newfoundland. Approximately 12.4 km of the highway system will be renovated where work includes but is not limited to: culvert replacements and extensions, replacements/installations of concrete culvert headwalls, installation of concrete gutter; guide rail replacements, excavation and removal of loose rock located near the Dry Brook concrete box culvert for use within the renovation and to maintain structural integrity of the culvert, cold planning (milling) the existing asphalt surface, and placement of two (2) lifts of asphaltic concrete pavement. In addition, the Tablelands Trail access road and parking lot will be renovated to provide increased parking within the existing footprint to accommodate a total of 50 light vehicles and three (3) RV/buses.

Scope of Assessment: Work will occur in an area of high visitation, within a dynamic environment featuring internationally significant geological features and near fish-bearing waterbodies. Valued components to be assessed will include: surface and subsurface hydrology, Outstanding Universal Value, fish and fish habitat and visitor access and enjoyment. This work will be assessed using a Detailed Impact Assessment.