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Environment Minister Announces Decision on the Orca Sand and Gravel Extraction Project and Associated Marine Terminal on Vancouver Island
OTTAWA, October 5, 2005 – The Honourable Stéphane Dion, Minister of the Environment and Minister responsible for the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, today announced that the proposed Orca Sand and Gravel Extraction and Associated Marine Terminal project is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The Minister has consequently referred the project back to the responsible authorities, Transport Canada (TC), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) for appropriate action.
The Minister based his environmental assessment decision on the following information:
- the comprehensive study report, including conclusions and recommendations, submitted by the responsible authorities;
- public comments received during the 30-day consultation period which ended on August 26, 2005 and TC's, DFO's and INAC's response to the comments;
- the implementation of mitigation measures and a follow-up program.
A copy of the Minister's decision statement can be found on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry using reference number 04-03-5332.
Orca Sand & Gravel Ltd. proposes to construct and operate a gravel and sand extraction facility and an associated marine terminal, the Orca Sand and Gravel Project. The project includes the construction and operation of a 15,000 to 22,000 tonnes per day processing plant (four to six million tonnes per annum) and an associated marine terminal designed to handle vessels larger than 25,000 tonnes deadweight (DWT). The extraction site and marine terminal lie immediately alongside Highway 19, the Island Highway, 3.8 kilometres west of Port McNeill on the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.
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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.
Media may contact:
Gordon Harris
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: (613) 957-0825
For more information about the environmental assessment process, please contact:
John Woodward
Project Analyst
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: (613) 957-0961
john.woodward@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
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