July 16, 2015 — Ottawa, ON — Office of the Minister of the Environment
Environment Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, today announced the referral of the environmental assessment of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project in Alberta to an independent review panel.
The decision to refer the environmental assessment of the project to an independent review panel was made after considering its potential to cause significant adverse environmental effects and concerns expressed by the public and Aboriginal groups in relation to these effects.
The Minister has set timelines for the environmental assessment of the project as follows:
- The timeline for the review panel to be established (pre-panel phase) is 150 days (5 months) from the date of the referral of the project.
- The timeline for the review panel to submit its report (panel phase) is 430 days (14 months) from the date of the establishment of the review panel.
- The timeline for the federal Minister's decision statement (post-panel phase) is 150 days (5 months) from the date of the submission of the review panel's report.
The above timelines do not include the time the proponent takes to complete its work or gather information required for the environmental assessment.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is making funding available through its Participant Funding Program to assist the public and Aboriginal groups in participating in the upcoming environmental assessment of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project.
Funding is available for eligible individuals and groups to assist them in reviewing and providing comments on the Review Panel Terms of Reference and the Environmental Impact Statement, preparing for and participating in the public hearing, and commenting on the potential conditions that would be required, if the project is allowed to proceed.
Applications received by August 31, 2015 will be considered. Recipients and the amount of funding allocated will be announced at a later date.
Ted Laking
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441
Anita Szerze
Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Telephone: 613-960-2464
anita.szerze@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
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