Tobeatic Management Plan Public Comment Period Extended

ENVIRONMENT/LABOUR--Tobeatic Management Plan Public Comment Period Extended

Nova Scotians will have an extra two weeks to comment on the draft management plan for Tobeatic Wilderness Area.

Environment and Labour Minister Kerry Morash said the deadline has been extended to Friday, June 18. The extension is at the request of stakeholders who are involved in the spring lobster fishery.

"There has been a lot of public interest in the draft plan and the open houses have been well attended," Mr. Morash said. "But some people who have an interest in the wilderness area felt an extra couple of weeks would help them complete their comments."

The draft management plan proposes management direction for ecosystem protection, wilderness recreation, vehicle use, campsite leases and nature tourism.

Public open-house information sessions will take place in Digby, today, May 19; Annapolis Royal, May 20 and in Dartmouth on May 25. Information displays are continuing at local libraries.

The draft management plan and related materials are available on the department's website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ , at any Environment and Labour office, or by calling 1-800-567-7544.

NOTE TO EDITORS: The following public libraries have information displays about the Tobeatic Wilderness Area draft management plan: -- Keshen Goodman Library, Halifax, until May 31 -- Thomas H. Raddall Library, Liverpool, until June 4 -- Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Library, Yarmouth, until June 4 -- Annapolis Valley Regional Library, Annapolis Royal, until June 4

Open houses, at which Environment and Labour staff will be available to discuss the draft management plan, will be held as follows: -- Digby Fire Hall, Digby, May 19 -- Annapolis Royal Fire Hall, Annapolis Royal, May 20 -- Alderney Gate Library, Dartmouth, May 25

All open houses run from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.