Vulcan stepping into Canada - Black Point Nova ScotiaFirst move north of the border - its also going to be a marine model - so this is a positive that Canada sourcing and marine movement continues to be part of their logistics network - beyond Texas Gulf Coast.
Final public comment period for Black Point Quarry
By Helen Murphy
15 January, 2016 - Guysborough Journal
GUYSBOROUGH – The proponents of the Black Point Quarry project remain optimist about the environmental approval process as the final public comment period gets underway. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has invited the public to comment on its draft Environmental Assessment Report (EAP), which outlines the agency's conclusions and recommendations regarding the potential environmental effects of the project, proposed mitigation measures, the significance of any remaining adverse environmental effects, and the follow-up program.
"We're very encouraged by the comments that are in their environmental assessment report draft and we feel we've had great communications with CEAA along the way," Frank Leith, director of corporate geological services at Vulcan Materials told The Journal in an interview Tuesday. He said that relationship and the joint federal-provincial environmental approval process "has led to a mutually agreeable set of conditions.
"They have gone as far as to state in their report draft that the Black Point Quarry project is 'not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects'," he said. "That is a very encouraging statement."
CEAA also invites the public to comment on the potential environmental assessment conditions for the project. These potential conditions would become legally binding if the Minister of Environment and Climate Change ultimately issues a decision statement indicating that the project may proceed.
This is the last of four opportunities for the public to comment on this project. All comments received will be considered public. Written comments must be submitted by February 3, 2016.
Following this final comment period, the EAP will be finalized and the federal minister will issue an environmental assessment decision statement indicating whether the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects, and identifying the conditions that the proponent must meet with respect to mitigation and follow-up requirements in the event that the project is permitted to proceed.
"They've done their due diligence," Guysborough Warden Vernon Pitts said of the work of Vulcan Materials to this point. "They've been fully engaged in our communities. They've been in to the schools, supported events. I had the chance to tour their facilities in Alabama a couple of years ago and they were fantastic...Anywhere they are, they are engaged.
"Anytime we can get 50-100 jobs anywhere in the province, I think it's a great thing. That could be 75 families here in the municipality, working here and with kids going to schools, using our recreation program, churches, pharmacies, and banks. Everybody wins."
The Black Point Quarry Project is supported by the Guysborough County Inshore Fishermen's Association.
"There are certain things we will not accept (in terms of industrial projects), but as far as a quarry, we have one now in Auld's Cove and I've never heard a complaint on that since I've been on council and that's over 20 years," said PItts.
Leith said they hope to have a decision on the environmental assessment by the end of April. Then there's a two-year period before Vulcan expects to break ground, during which time various industrial permits need to be secured and the company will make its final investment decision.