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

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is conducting a comprehensive study environmental assessment of the proposed Donkin Export Coking Coal Project located in Nova Scotia. The public is invited to comment on the project and the conduct of the comprehensive study.

The public is also invited to comment on 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 received will be reviewed and considered before the Guidelines are 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). To obtain a paper copy of the document, contact the project manager listed in this notice.

Written comments in either official language must be sent by December 29, 2011 to:

Donkin Export Coking Coal Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Micheline Savard, Project Manager
1801 Hollis St. Suite 200
Halifax NS B3J 3N4
Telephone: 902-426-0564
Fax: 902-426-6550
XstrataCoalDonkin@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

All comments received will be considered public and will become part of the project file. This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the environmental assessment of the project.

$30,000 available for public participation

The Agency is making available $30,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to participate in activities related to subsequent public consultations during this environmental assessment.

Applications received by December 29, 2011 will be considered. To submit an application or to obtain additional information on the program, contact:

Participant Funding Program
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Ina Zanovello
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Telephone: 1-866-582-1884 or 613-960-0282
Fax: 613-948-9172
PFP.PAFP@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Information on the Participant Funding Program, including a guide and the application form, is available on the Agency's website.

The Proposed 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.