Grassy Mountain Coal Project - Environmental Assessment Referred to Review Panel

OTTAWA, July 16, 2015 /CNW/ - Environment Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, today announced the referral of the environmental assessment of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project in Alberta to an independent review panel. 

The decision to refer the environmental assessment of the project to an independent review panel was made after considering its potential to cause significant adverse environmental effects and concerns expressed by the public and Aboriginal groups in relation to these effects.

The Minister has set timelines for the environmental assessment of the project as follows:

• The timeline for the review panel to be established (pre-panel phase) is 150 days (5 months) from the date of the referral of the project.
• The timeline for the review panel to submit its report (panel phase) is 430 days (14 months) from the date of the establishment of the review panel.
• The timeline for the federal Minister's decision statement (post-panel phase) is 150 days (5 months) from the date of the submission of the review panel's report.

The above timelines do not include the time the proponent takes to complete its work or gather information required for the environmental assessment.

Participant Funding

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is making funding available through its Participant Funding Program to assist the public and Aboriginal groups in participating in the upcoming environmental assessment of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project.

Funding is available for eligible individuals and groups to assist them in reviewing and providing comments on the Review Panel Terms of Reference and the Environmental Impact Statement, preparing for and participating in the public hearing, and commenting on the potential conditions that would be required, if the project is allowed to proceed.

Applications received by August 31, 2015 will be considered. Recipients and the amount of funding allocated will be announced at a later date.

Quick Facts

• Benga Mining Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Riversdale Resources Limited, is proposing to construct and operate an open-pit metallurgical coal mine near the Crowsnest Pass, approximately seven kilometres north of Blairmore, in south-west Alberta. As proposed, the production capacity of the project would be a maximum of four million tonnes of clean coal per year, over a mine-life of about 25 years.
• Information on the project and the environmental assessment process is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at ceaa.gc.ca, reference number 80101.

Associated Links

• Participant Funding Program (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Grassy Mountain Coal Project (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Basics of Environmental Assessment (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)

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SOURCE Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

For further information: Contacts: Ted Laking, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Anita Szerze, Communications Advisor, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Telephone: [phone], [email protected]