Public Comments Invited - Murray River Coal Project

OTTAWA, Dec. 11, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is conducting a federal environmental assessment of the proposed Murray River Coal Project (the Project) located in British Columbia (B.C.).

The Project is subject to review under both CEAA 2012 and British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Act, and is undergoing a coordinated environmental assessment with B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).

The Agency and the EAO invite the public to comment on the potential environmental effects of the Project and the proposed measures to prevent or mitigate those effects as described in a summary of the proponent's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The public comment period will take place from December 18, 2014 to January 29, 2015. An information session will be held during the comment period.

Comments need only be submitted once to either the Agency or the EAO to be considered for both the provincial and federal environmental assessments. All comments received will be considered public. Written comments can be submitted to either:

 

Quick Facts

• The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is seeking public comments on the summary of the EIS for the proposed Murray River Coal Project, located 12.5 kilometres southwest of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. The summary of the EIS and more information on this project are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry website, reference number 80041.
• Following this comment period, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will prepare a draft Environmental Assessment Report, setting out its conclusions and recommendations regarding the potential environmental effects of the Project, the proposed mitigation measures, and the significance of any remaining adverse environmental effects.
• The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will also prepare potential environmental assessment conditions for consideration by the Minister of the Environment. These conditions would become legally-binding on the proponent if the Minister of the Environment ultimately issues a decision statement indicating that the Project may proceed. A public comment period on the draft Environmental Assessment Report and the potential conditions will be announced at a later date.
• Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and fines for non-compliance.
• 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.
  

Associated Links

• Murray River Coal Project (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Basics of Environmental Assessment (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Responsible Resource Development (Canada's Economic Action Plan)
• Environmental Assessment Office (Government of British Columbia)

SOURCE: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Ted Laking, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Greg Leake, Director of Communications, B.C. Environmental Assessment Office, 250-387-2470; Karen Fish, Communications Advisor, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 613-957-0278, [email protected]