Province Wants Environmental Study of Black Bull Mining Project

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--Province Wants Environmental Study of Black Bull Mining Project

The Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour will require a full environmental assessment before deciding whether to allow the proposed White Rock Mine in Yarmouth County to proceed.

Black Bull Resources Inc., the company that wants to develop the quartz, kaolin and mica at the site, has registered the project. However, the registration document and the additional information required on the environmental impact of the proposed mine were insufficient. The department now requires further review.

The proposed mine site is located near the Tobeatic Wilderness Area, and several concerns remain, including the project's effect on water resources in the area and the potential impact of port load-out facilities at distribution points in Shelburne, Yarmouth and Weymouth.

An environmental assessment involves several steps and deadlines. The department has 12 days to publish a notice outlining guidelines for the review. Interested parties will be given several opportunities to provide input throughout the process.

Environment and Labour Minister David Morse said the department's key responsibility is protecting the environment.

"We welcome development but we must make sure that there are no significant impacts on the environment," said Mr. Morse. "The information Black Bull has provided so far is not complete enough to allow us to make a well-considered decision."

The minister said that the environmental assessment process is one of several steps the company must complete in order to proceed. Leases and permits from the Department of Natural Resources are also required.

"Our government is committed to environmentally responsible use of the province's resources. We want mining companies to provide timely, independent information on the impact of their developments, and we urge Nova Scotians to take part in the public comment periods that are provided during the environmental assessment."

NOTE: The following is a backgrounder on the Environmental Assessment Process

Notification Within 12 days of the minister's decision to require an environmental assessment, the department publishes a notice inviting the public to submit written comments for consideration in preparing the report's terms of reference (TOR).

Public and Government Comment on TOR Written comments regarding the TOR must be submitted to the department within 40 days following publication of the notice. Comments from the public, nearby municipalities, provincial and federal government departments, any affected cultural community, and the proponent are considered when preparing the final terms of reference.

Proponent Response Within five days after the expiration of the public comment period, the proponent is given copies of all comments and has 21 days to respond to them.

Issue Final TOR Within 14 days of receiving response from the proponent, the department provides the proponent with the final terms of reference for the report.

Environmental Assessment Report Preparation The proponent has two years from the time when the TOR are issued to submit a draft report. The minister may extend this time period by one year.

Review of Draft Report Within 12 days of receiving the final draft, the department advises the proponent that the report satisfies or does not satisfy the requirements of the TOR. If the report is deficient, the proponent must submit the additional information which is reviewed for another 12 days.

Submission of Environmental Assessment Report Within 30 days of the draft report being accepted the proponent must provide the number of copies of the report specified by the department. The department may extend this time limit.

Once the report is submitted the minister will decide whether to have it reviewed within the department or forward it to an independent board. The report will then be available for public review. Upon completion of the review the minister will make his decision to approve or reject the project.