Public Comment Invited on Whites Point Quarry

Nova Scotians are invited to comment on issues that should be considered in an environmental impact statement about a proposed quarry at Whites Point, Digby Co.

Bilcon of Nova Scotia Corporation wants to develop the quarry. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour released draft guidelines for the company's statement today, Nov. 10.

A joint review panel, which was announced on Nov. 5, will finalize the guidelines after receiving public input. The final guidelines will identify the issues that Bilcon will be required to address in its environmental assessment of the proposed quarry.

Bilcon of Nova Scotia Corporation wants to construct and operate a basalt quarry, processing facility and marine terminal at Whites Point. Quarrying is proposed to take place on 120 hectares of land. The operations would be year-round, with about 40,000 tonnes of aggregate produced for ship loading each week, totalling two million tonnes per year.

The review panel will hold public meetings as part of the consultation process. Advertisements with meeting dates and locations will be placed in local and provincial newspapers.

Written comments on the guidelines must be received by the panel manager by Jan. 21, 2005. Comments should be mailed to: Steve Chapman Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Project - Joint Review Panel P.O. Box 486 C.R.O. Halifax, N.S. B3J 2R7 or e-mailed to: comments@wpq-jointreview.ca .

Interested parties can register with Mr. Chapman for information on the panel's process and activities. They should contact him with a mailing address, E-mail address or fax number.

The draft guidelines are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca and the Nova Scotia Environment and Labour website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ess/ea . They can also be viewed at the following centres:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 1801 Hollis St., Suite 200 Halifax, N.S.

Nova Scotia Environment and Labour 5151 Terminal Rd., 5th floor Halifax, N.S.

Nova Scotia Environment and Labour Yarmouth District Office 13 First St. Yarmouth, N.S.

Annapolis Royal Branch Library Town Hall 285 St. George St. Annapolis Royal, N.S.

Isaiah W. Wilson Memorial Library 84 Warwick St. Digby, N.S.

Clean Nova Scotia 126 Portland Street Dartmouth, N.S.

Ecology Action Centre Suite 31, 1568 Argyle St. Halifax, N.S.