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Belleoram Crushed Granite Rock Quarry Project:
Environmental Assessment to Continue as a Comprehensive Study
OTTAWA - March 22, 2007 - The Honourable John Baird, Minister
of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment
Agency (the Agency), has determined that a comprehensive study process is the
most appropriate level of environmental assessment for the proposed Belleoram
Crushed Granite Rock Quarry Project in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Minister based his decision on the report and recommendations submitted by Transport Canada (TC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). The report contains information on the scope of the proposed elements of the project; the factors to be considered in each department’s environmental assessment; public comments submitted to the responsible authorities; the potential of the project to cause adverse environmental effects; and the ability of the comprehensive study process to address issues relating to the elements of the project to be studied by the responsible authorities.
Two separate comprehensive studies, one by TC and DFO and another by ACOA, are being undertaken in a single cooperative process. These departments will continue with their own studies and submit a final joint report to the Minister of the Environment. Minister Baird would also like to welcome the input of Canadians, who will have the opportunity to formally comment on the findings and recommendations.
Continental Stone Limited is proposing to construct and operate a 900 hectare quarry and associated marine terminal near the community of Belleoram on the south coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The development proposal also includes road construction, set up of core sampling crusher and associated equipment, removal of overburden, drilling, blasting and crushing of the granite for transport by bulk carrier to international markets. The quarry is expected to produce two to six million tonnes of aggregate per year for approximately 50 years. The proposed location is immediately north of the community of Belleoram in Fortune Bay.
For more information on this project and others in your area, please consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry.
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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.
For more information, media may call:
Robert Deslauriers
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0396
robert.deslauriers@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
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