OTTAWA/QUÉBEC, May 1, 2006 – The Federal Review Panel and the Review Committee (COMEX) are announcing that they will be holding additional public hearing sessions scheduled in Montreal from May 1 to 5, to fulfill the many requests from citizens and organisations who wish to be heard in the Eastmain-1-A and Rupert Diversion Project environmental assessment.
The public is invited to attend sessions at the Palais des Congrès, room 520 on May 16 and 17, which will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m.
“Hearings constitute the most important stage in the environmental assessment process for the public” declared Bernard Forestell, Chair of the Federal Review Panel. “We are pleased with this high participation rate, which will contribute to strengthening the quality of the environmental assessment of the project.”
“Protecting the environment concerns us all,” said in turn Clément Tremblay, Chair of the COMEX. “I am very pleased to see that citizens, interest groups and industry representatives from Montreal and other Quebec regions are giving such importance to this crucial stage in the project assessment.”
The registration list for the public hearings to be held from May 1 to 5 filled up quickly, and a waiting list had to be compiled in anticipation of additional sessions.
The public hearings started on March 15, and were held in the Cree communities of Mistissini, Nemaska, Eastmain and Wemindji, as well as in Chibougamau. Following the Montreal sessions, the reviewing bodies will move on to the Cree communities of Waskaganish and Chisasibi. The public hearings stage ends June 9.
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The Palais des Congrès is located at 301, Saint-Antoine West Street.
For information on the review, contact:
Federal Review Panel:
Eric Giroux
Panel Manager
1141 Route de l'Eglise, 2nd floor
P.O. Box 9514
Sainte-Foy, Quebec G1V 4B8
Tel.: (418) 649-6442
Fax: (418) 649-6443
eric.giroux@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
COMEX:
Michael O'Neill
COMEX Secretary
675 René Lévesque Blvd. East
Marie-Guyart Building, 6th floor, Box 83
Quebec City, Quebec G1R 5V7
Tel.: (418) 521-3933, ext. 7255
Fax: (418) 646-0266
michael.oneill@mddep.gouv.qc.ca
Media information:
Public Information Office
Robert Bellizzi
Research and Communication Officer
277 Duke Street, Room 103
Montreal, Quebec H3C 2M2
Tel.: (514) 871-8378
Toll-free: (877) 880-8378
Fax: (514) 871-0859
communication@pio-bip.qc.ca
Nicholas Girard
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin street, 22nd floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel. : (613) 957-0958
Fax. : (613) 957-0946
nicholas.girard@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
