Provincial document suggests Centre Village was preferred, in part, because of woodpecker nesting at alternative site<\/p>\n
Published Nov 05, 2025 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 13\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n A wildlife group says it has evidence a protected migratory bird species is present at the site of a proposed gas-fired power plant in southeastern New Brunswick, which its leader says should rule out Centre Village as a location for the project.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the e-Edition, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalism and the next generation of journalists.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to keep reading.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite journalists.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n But the provincial government says an earlier analysis showed no nesting activity for the pileated woodpecker, which is protected under Ottawa\u2019s Migratory Bird Regulations.\u00a0In the same statement, however, the province said gathering information about the woodpecker is part of the ongoing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed 500-megawatt facility.<\/p>\n An Oct. 22 NB Power document obtained by Brunswick News shows the presence of the red-crested bird at an alternative potential site at Scoudouc was one of the reasons the province decided to prefer Centre Village instead.<\/p>\n Yet Barry Rothfuss, executive director of the Atlantic Wildlife Institute, said he\u2019s seen photos showing what appear to be trees containing woodpecker cavities at the latter site.<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The institute is located several kilometres away, and Rothfuss noted there have been pileated woodpeckers spotted around the institute\u2019s property.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a far more biodiverse area,\u201d he said. \u201cBiodiversity is something we can\u2019t afford to lose.\u201d<\/p>\n He told Brunswick News he notified Tantramar Mayor Andrew Black and Environment and Climate Change Canada about the woodpecker nesting photos. In a letter to Black, he wrote the institute had been notified by someone working at the site.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have had two provincial professionals verify the photos suggesting Pileated Woodpecker activity. And this morning we received an image of a tree cut down that also had woodpecker activity on the section where the new road has been cut in for water testing,\u201d he wrote in the letter.<\/p>\n Morning Email Telegraph-Journal<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Brunswick News has requested an interview with Black and is awaiting a response.<\/p>\n Federal regulations state the woodpeckers are a \u201ckeystone species,\u201d meaning it has a disproportionate effect on its natural environment.<\/p>\n \u201cCavities are a critical and limiting resource for many migratory birds, both for nesting and for overwinter survival,\u201d Environment and Climate Change Canada says on its website.<\/p>\n The nesting cavities are protected year-round, including when they are not occupied by a migratory bird or viable eggs.<\/p>\n \u201cIf (a) proponent wishes to destroy (an) unoccupied nest, they must submit a notification through the Abandoned Nest Registry, and if the nest remains unoccupied by Pileated Woodpeckers and other migratory bird species for 36 months, it may at that point be destroyed by cutting down the tree,\u201d reads the federal agency\u2019s webpage.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n The presence of pileated woodpeckers were one of the reasons the 20-hectare Centre Village site was chosen over the Scoudouc location, according to a two-page \u201clocation analysis\u201d document. NB Power confirmed the document was used in the site-selection process.<\/p>\n The same paper also suggested Centre Village was chosen because it had only 29 per cent wetlands, no identified watercourses, and no areas of high or medium archaeological significance.<\/p>\n It goes on to say the Scoudouc site was ruled out because it would require substantial transmission lines, had watercourses and would require a Fisheries Act authorization that would delay the project by 18 months, and because evidence of pileated woodpecker nests had been found at the site.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In an emailed statement, Department of Environment spokesperson Vicky Lutes said the province has already undertaken a \u201ctargeted survey\u201d for woodpecker cavities at Centre Village, but gathering further information is part of the ongoing review.<\/p>\n \u201c(N)o evidence of pileated woodpecker nesting activity was observed on either of the survey days or incidentally during non-targeted surveys,\u201d said Lutes, noting one pileated woodpecker was observed flying over the project site during the survey.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a requirement of the field work authorization, the proponent is required to ensure that all proposed alterations associated with water supply source assessment are conducted in compliance with the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA) and associated regulations, as well as the federal and provincial Species at Risk Acts (SARA) and associated regulations.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Lutes said the EIA review process is designed to address those types of issues and to avoid or mitigate impacts early in the project planning phase.<\/p>\n \u201cThis process is ongoing, and no decision will be made until all issues have been appropriately addressed,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n When Brunswick News asked Environment Minister Gilles LePage if there are other sites under consideration, he said only that the EIA will uncover any challenges with the Centre Village site, and that ProEnergy, the private proponent, will make recommendations on how to mitigate them.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to wait for the company because it\u2019s the company\u2019s decision what to do, what to recommend and how to mitigate the impact on the woodpeckers if there (are) any,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Advertisement 8<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n He noted the EIA process takes roughly six months, but the timeline will ultimately depend on the findings and how quickly the company responds.<\/p>\n Environment and Climate Change Canada spokesperson Hannah Boonstra said in an email the federal department did receive a complaint about the site and is monitoring the situation closely.<\/p>\n \u201cIf evidence of an alleged violation is found, enforcement officers will take appropriate action in accordance with the compliance and enforcement policy for wildlife legislation,\u201d Boonstra said in the email.<\/p>\n If the project goes ahead, ProEnergy will build the plant and sell electricity to NB Power as part of a 25-year tolling agreement.<\/p>\n![\"tree\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1103-tt-woodpeckers.jpg\")
Atlantic Wildlife Institute executive director Barry Rothfuss says he has received photos of pileated woodpecker nest cavities from the site of a proposed gas plant in the Centre Village area. The woodpeckers are a protected species according to federal regulations. SUBMITTEDArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Telegraph-Journal\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.9.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tj.svg\"){kind=logo}
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<\/p>\n![\"Barry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1103-tt-woodpeckers-3.jpg\")
Barry Rothfuss, executive director of the Atlantic Wildlife Institute, said the Centre Village site is not a suitable site for a proposed gas plant because pileated woodpeckers are a protected species and the Chignecto Isthmus region is a biodiverse ecosystem. SUBMITTED<\/p>\n