Environmental Impact Preview¶

Pre-Assessment Scoping for IAAC Federal Review¶

Version: 1.0 Date: December 2025 Purpose: Preparation for Impact Assessment Agency of Canada submission

Executive Summary¶

This document provides preliminary environmental scoping for the Clean Compute NL ocean-cooled data center project in advance of formal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) submission. The project involves shore-based data center facilities and a subsea sCO2 cooling loop, which may trigger federal assessment under the Impact Assessment Act (2019).

Key Findings: - Project likely requires federal assessment due to marine component - Primary valued components: marine fish and fish habitat, marine mammals, Indigenous interests - Thermal discharge is the primary potential effect (well-understood, highly mitigatable) - No significant adverse effects anticipated with standard mitigation - Assessment timeline: 18-24 months for standard review

1. Project Description¶

1.1 Project Overview¶

1.2 Project Components¶

Onshore Facilities: - Data center buildings (100,000+ sq ft) - Electrical substation (230 kV connection) - Cooling plant building - Control/operations building - Access roads and parking

Marine Components: - Horizontal directional drill (HDD) shore crossing (~200m) - Subsea pipeline array (16 × 500mm pipes, 10 km length) - Ocean heat exchanger (finned pipes on seabed) - Pipeline route at 200-400m water depth

Operational Parameters: - Heat rejection: 100 MW thermal - Working fluid: Supercritical CO2 (closed loop) - Thermal discharge: ~23°C temperature rise in sCO2, dissipated to 2-4°C ocean - Water consumption: Zero (closed loop system) - Air emissions: Zero direct emissions

1.3 Project Phases¶

2. Regulatory Framework¶

2.1 Federal Assessment Triggers¶

The project may trigger federal review under:

Recommendation: Submit Initial Project Description to IAAC for screening determination.

2.2 Provincial Requirements¶

2.3 Assessment Pathway Options¶

Option A: Standard IA (Most Likely) - Timeline: 18-24 months - Process: IAAC-led assessment - Decision: Minister of Environment

Option B: Substitution - Provincial EA substituted for federal - Timeline: 12-18 months - Requires IAAC approval

Option C: Screening Out - Project not designated for IA - Timeline: 2-3 months for determination - Less likely given marine component

3. Valued Components¶

3.1 Biophysical Environment¶

Marine Fish and Fish Habitat¶

Marine Mammals¶

Seabirds¶

Physical Environment¶

3.2 Human Environment¶

Indigenous Peoples¶

Commercial Fisheries¶

Other Human Uses¶

4. Potential Effects and Mitigation¶

4.1 Construction Phase Effects¶

Marine Installation¶

Onshore Construction¶

4.2 Operations Phase Effects¶

Thermal Discharge¶

Mitigation: - Deep water discharge for rapid mixing - Distributed discharge points (16 pipes over 1+ km) - Thermal plume modeling to optimize design - Continuous monitoring program

Residual Effect: Minor, localized warming in immediate vicinity of discharge. No significant effect on marine ecosystem predicted.

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF)¶

Operational Noise¶

4.3 Decommissioning Effects¶

5. Baseline Data Requirements¶

5.1 Marine Environment Studies¶

5.2 Terrestrial Studies¶

5.3 Socio-Economic Studies¶

5.4 Estimated Study Costs¶

6. Indigenous Engagement Plan¶

6.1 Identified Indigenous Groups¶

6.2 Engagement Approach¶

Phase 1: Early Notification (Immediate) - Written notification of project - Offer of initial meeting - Project information package

Phase 2: Information Sharing (During Studies) - Regular updates on study plans - Opportunity for input on study design - Access to preliminary results

Phase 3: Consultation (During EA) - Formal consultation meetings - Written submissions - Response to concerns

Phase 4: Ongoing (Operations) - Annual reporting - Grievance mechanism - Employment/training opportunities

6.3 Potential Benefits¶

7. Preliminary Effects Assessment¶

7.1 Effects Summary Matrix¶

Legend: (-) negative, (+) positive, Negligible = no measurable effect

7.2 Significance Determination (Preliminary)¶

Based on preliminary analysis, no significant adverse environmental effects are anticipated, provided:

1. Standard mitigation measures are implemented
2. Pipeline route avoids sensitive habitats
3. Construction timing respects marine mammal seasons
4. Thermal discharge design optimizes dispersion
5. Meaningful Indigenous consultation occurs

7.3 Key Uncertainties¶

8. Assessment Timeline¶

8.1 Pre-Submission (Current - Month 0)¶

8.2 Planning Phase (Month 1-6)¶

8.3 Impact Statement Phase (Month 6-18)¶

8.4 Review Phase (Month 18-24)¶

8.5 Key Milestones¶

9. Cumulative Effects Considerations¶

9.1 Other Projects in Region¶

9.2 Cumulative Effects Approach¶

The Impact Statement will assess cumulative effects on: - Marine fish populations (combined fisheries, development, climate) - Marine mammal populations (vessel traffic, noise, climate) - Indigenous traditional use (access, resources) - Regional employment (economic diversification)

10. Adaptive Management Framework¶

10.1 Monitoring Program¶

10.2 Adaptive Management Triggers¶

11. Next Steps¶

11.1 Immediate Actions (Q1 2025)¶

1. Finalize project description for IAAC submission
2. Initiate Indigenous engagement with identified groups
3. Commission geophysical survey for route selection
4. Engage EA consultant for baseline studies
5. Submit Initial Project Description to IAAC

11.2 Success Criteria¶

• IAAC screening determination received
• Indigenous engagement initiated with all groups
• Baseline study program approved and funded
• No fatal flaws identified in preliminary scoping
• Community support maintained

11.3 Budget for EA Phase¶

Appendix A: Initial Project Description Outline¶

For IAAC submission:

1. Proponent Information
2. Project Overview
3. Purpose and need
4. Location and components
5. Capacity and timeline
6. Project Activities
7. Construction
8. Operations
9. Decommissioning
10. Preliminary Environmental Setting
11. Potential Effects
12. Engagement Activities
13. Federal Involvement
14. Contact Information

Appendix B: Regulatory Contact List¶

Appendix C: Key References¶

• Impact Assessment Act (2019)
• Physical Activities Regulations
• Fisheries Act
• Species at Risk Act
• NL Environmental Protection Act
• IAAC guidance documents
• DFO Pathways of Effects

Environmental Impact Preview v1.0 | December 2025