Tar Ponds Cleanup Guidelines Final

The cleanup of the Sydney Tar Ponds site has passed an important regulatory milestone with the release of the final guidelines for the environmental impact statement.

Kerry Morash, Minister of Environment and Labour, and Stephane Dion, Minister of the Environment for Canada, released the document today, Aug. 30, after reviewing public comments on draft guidelines published June 30.

The Sydney Tar Ponds Agency will use the final guidelines to prepare the project's environmental impact statement, to be filed with a provincial-federal panel reviewing the project.

"The involvement of the public is essential to the outcome and credibility of the environmental assessment," said Mr. Morash. "I appreciate the public spirit of those who commented and I thank them for their contributions. The joint Nova Scotia-Canada review is moving ahead on schedule and we expect to appoint the panel members shortly."

"This is another important step toward the timely and efficient completion of this environmental assessment, which is an investment in the success of the cleanup," said Mr. Dion. "I wish to thank members of the public for their input to the final guidelines. I will work with my provincial colleague to appoint members to the panel in the near future."

The Sydney Tar Ponds Agency is expected to submit its environmental impact statement by Dec. 30.

The statement will then be released for a 48-day public comment period. If the joint panel determines that no additional information is required, it will then schedule public hearings.

The final guidelines are available on the Department of Environment and Labour's website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ea/tarponds.asp and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca/050/index_e.cfm (reference #05-05-8989).

They are also available by contacting Deborah Hendriksen at the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 902-564-2759.

Printed copies of the guidelines can be viewed at the following offices:

• Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 1801 Hollis St., Suite 200, Halifax 902-426-0564

• Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour 5151 Terminal Rd., Halifax 902-424-5301

• Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour 295 Charlotte St., Sydney 902-563-2100

The cleanup is formally known as the Sydney Tar Ponds and Coke Ovens Remediation Project.