News Release
Donkin Export Coking Coal Project – Public Comments Invited and Federal Funding Available

OTTAWA – November 14, 2011 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is starting a comprehensive study type of environmental assessment for the proposed Donkin Export Coking Coal Project located in Nova Scotia. The Agency invites the public to comment on the project and the conduct of the comprehensive study.

The Agency has prepared the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines that identify potential environmental effects to be addressed and information that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS. Public comments on the draft EIS Guidelines are invited and will be reviewed and considered before the document is finalized and issued to the proponent.

The draft EIS Guidelines and more information on this project are available on the Agency's website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (registry reference number 11-03-63924). The document is available in paper copy by request as well.

All comments received by December 29, 2011 will be considered.

The Agency is also making available $30,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to participate in the federal environmental assessment of this project. Funding applications received by December 29, 2011 will be considered.

This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the environmental assessment of the project.

The proposed project consists of the construction, operation and decommissioning of an underground coal mine facility at the site of the existing Donkin Mine located on the northeastern tip of Cape-Breton in Nova Scotia. The mine would have a lifespan of 30 plus years and extract approximately 3.6 million tonnes of coal per year. The project also includes a coal handling and processing plant that would be constructed to produce coal ready for transfer to a new barge loading facility. The coal would be loaded onto a barge, moved by tug to a new transshipment location, and loaded into ocean going vessels.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

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For more information, media may contact:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Céline Legault
Communications Advisor
Tel.: 613-957-0278