News release

Report Will Aid Coal Mine Decisions

Environment and Labour (Oct. 2000 - March 2008)

Decisions on surface coal mine applications in Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM) will benefit from the recommendations of a cumulative effects assessment commissioned by the Department of Environment and Labour and released today, Oct. 13.

"The report does not make an overall recommendation on surface coal mining in Cape Breton Regional Municipality," said Michael Baker, acting Minister of Environment and Labour. "It offers a decision-making tool that is, in many ways, unique to the area.

"We have one active surface-mining application before us and we'll be consulting this report as we consider it and any future proposals."

The report made four recommendations for the environmental assessment of surface mining applications in CBRM. They address:

  • a review of "best management practices" that might apply specifically to a proposed project;
  • detailed reclamation planning, including standards, research, evaluation, and community involvement;
  • community involvement in the application process, project activity, and reclamation;
  • the potential of effects of a surface mining project to interact with the effects of past, present, and future projects.

The department is now working to incorporate the recommendations into its decision-making process.

The report, prepared by Dartmouth consultants Jacques Whitford, is available on the website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ea/coalmining.asp . It can also be viewed at the Department of Environment and Labour's offices at 295 Charlotte St., Sydney, and at 5151 Terminal Rd., Halifax.