Point Aconi Mine Appeal Delayed

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The decision on two appeals of an approval of a Point Aconi surface mine will be delayed by about two weeks, the Department of Environment and Labour said today, Nov. 3.

"The delay is caused by the length and complexity of the 316-page approval and because we have two appeals that have to be treated individually," said Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour.

"We regret missing the deadline for this decision, but the appeals deserve full consideration and that is simply going to take more time."

The approval was issued to Pioneer Coal Ltd., of Antigonish.

The process requires departmental staff to review the approval to examine whether the grounds of each appeal are valid and report to the minister. The minister then reviews the report and makes a decision.

A decision on the first of the appeals was due today.

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FOR BROADCAST USE:

     A decision on two appeals of Pioneer Coal's Point

Aconi surface mine will be delayed by about two weeks.

     The Department of Environment and Labour said the delay was

caused by the size and complexity of the approval document being

appealed.

     Environment and Labour Minister Mark Parent says he

regrets the delay, but that the most important thing is to

ensure the appeals receive proper consideration.

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Media Contact: Bill Turpin
              Environment and Labour
              902-424-2575
              E-mail: turpinsw@gov.ns.ca