Stellarton Company Receives Environmental Approval

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--Stellarton Company Receives Environmental Approval

Nova Scotia Environment and Labour has approved an application from Pioneer Coal Limited to extend the Stellarton Pit Mine.

Under terms of the approval, the company will continue environmental monitoring programs for such things as air quality, noise and surface and groundwater quality. The department refused the company's request to operate the mine on a 24-hour basis.

The proposed expansion is about 50 hectares in area. No changes are proposed to the existing mine production levels or to coal trucking. The coal produced at the mine is trucked to the Nova Scotia Power Inc. Trenton Generating Station.

The complete environmental assessment approval, including the company's original application, will be posted this week on the Environment and Labour website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ess/ea/ .

Formed in 1989, the environmental assessment branch of the Department of Environment and Labour is responsible for assessing major projects to identify, correct or prevent adverse environmental impacts. A guide to the environmental assessment process is also available on the department's website.