Voisey's Bay Mine and Mill Environmental Assesment Panel Requests Additional Information.
NAIN, LABRADOR
May 1, 1998
The Voisey's Bay Mine and Mill Environmental Assessment Panel announced today that it has completed its review of the environmental impact statement (EIS) issued by the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company (VBNC) and has found that the EIS does not adequately respond to the Guidelines issued by the panel in June 1997.
As a result, the panel has requested additional information from VBNC in a number of areas where the EIS did not provide sufficient information to support meaningful discussion at public hearings.
The panel's determination follows their own review of the EIS, and consideration of comments on the adequacy of the EIS submitted by members of the public, by environmental groups, by community organizations, by aboriginal groups and by federal and provincial government departments and agencies. The panel is grateful to these groups and individuals who provided comments.
The panel has written VBNC to request additional information in a number of important areas. More specifically, the panel is seeking further information related to marine transportation, alternative means, water and waste management, impacts on Anaktalak Bay and Reid Brook, biological resources, mercury contaminant potential, socio-economic effects, insurance and liability provisions, and monitoring and follow-up programs.
The details of the information request can be found in the deficiency statement sent to VBNC today. As per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by representatives of the Labrador Inuit Association, the Innu Nation and the federal and provincial governments, the additional information requested by the panel will be subject to a 45-day public comment period once it has been submitted to the panel by VBNC.
Following the public comment period, the panel will then have 15 days to determine if this information is adequate to proceed to public hearings.
The deficiency statement is available on Internet at:
ceaa.gc.ca
Deficiency Statement: Request for Additional Information
For more information please contact:
Mr. Brian Torrie
Panel Manager
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
200 Sacre-Coeur Blvd
Hull, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Tel.: (819) 997-1000 (call collect)
Fax: (819) 994-1469
e-mail: brian.torrie@ceaa.gc.ca
Ms. Mary Webb
Information Officer
Environmental Assessment Office
P.O. Box 416
Nain, Labrador
Tel: (709) 922-2407
Fax: (709) 922-2409
(Also available in French, Innu- aimun and Inuktituk) |
