Thorburn Application for Coal Mine Approved

Environment Minister Michel Samson has approved, with conditions, an application by Thorburn Mining Ltd. to establish and operate a coal mine at Coalburn, Pictou Co.

Thorburn Mining proposes to mine an estimated 320,000 tonnes of coal from two near-surface reserves over the next five years. Plans include trucking the high-sulphur coal to Stellarton where it will be crushed and blended with low-sulphur coal. The project is expected to employ 25 people and create economic spinoffs in neighbouring communities.

Submissions to the department during the environmental assessment process indicated strong community support for the project. Public concerns about water supply, site reclamation and traffic are addressed in conditions placed on the application approval.

The conditions include: constructing and monitoring an alternative water supply for residents who have water problems; setting up a community liaison committee for residents to bring issues forward; and limiting the hours of operation. There will also be concurrent site reclamation and contingency plans to address various surface water control problems that could arise. Other conditions concerning noise and dust control, proximity of operations to homes, aquatic and terrestrial resources, and the transport of coal are outlined in the environmental assessment report.