HALIFAX, March 31, 2005 -- The Joint Panel reviewing the Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal project in Digby County, today released the final Guidelines for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The final EIS Guidelines will provide direction to the proponent, Bilcon of Nova Scotia, Corporation, in preparing a statement of the anticipated effects of the project on the environment. In transmitting the Guidelines to the proponent, the Panel has asked Bilcon to provide a schedule indicating the anticipated timeframe to produce the EIS. The draft EIS Guidelines were the subject of a public consultation which began in November 2004. After thoroughly considering the written submissions and the transcripts from the public meetings held in January 2005, the Panel restructured the EIS Guidelines to reflect comments received, and to make them more specific to the proposed project. "The quality of submissions brought forward by the public for this project was impressive," said Dr. Bob Fournier, the Panel Chair. "The Panel found the public scoping meetings along with the information gathered to be extremely valuable in helping to identify the issues". Following the reception of the EIS from the proponent, the public will be invited to assist in the EIS review by submitting written comments over a period of at least 90 days, on the statement's conformity to the Guidelines. Once the Panel has determined the EIS is complete and that no additional information is required, public hearings will be scheduled. The final EIS Guidelines are available on the Web sites of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and Nova Scotia Environment and Labour or by contacting the Panel Manager: Steve Chapman, Panel Manager Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Project - Joint Review Panel P.O. Box 486 C.R.O. Halifax, NS B3J 2R7 E-mail: Comments@WPQ-JointReview.ca The proposed Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Project is projected to take place on 150 hectares of land. The operations are expected to be year-round with approximately 40,000 tonnes of aggregate produced for ship loading each week, totalling two million tonnes per year. -30- The Joint Review Panel for the Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Project is an independent body, mandated by the federal Minister of the Environment and the Nova Scotia Minister of Environment and Labour to assess the environmental effects of the proposed project. Media may contact: Lucille Jamault Senior Communications Advisor Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency Tel.: (613) 957-0434 lucille.jamault@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
