CPAWS celebrates panel’s recommendations on Nova Scotia quarry
Posted on October 23, 2007
The Nova Scotia Chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is very pleased with the recommendations of a joint federal-provincial review panel that was tasked with reviewing the potential environmental impacts of a proposal basalt quarry for Digby Neck, Nova Scotia.The Whites Point quarry and marine terminal would see approximately 2 million tonnes of rock each year blasted from Digby Neck and shipped to New Jersey for use as aggregate.
The review panel is an independent body consisting of three experts in geology, oceanography, and regional planning and resource development. After thorough consideration of literally thousands of submissions and reports from government departments, scientists, community members, environmental groups, and others on this project, the panel has recommended that this project be rejected due to significant adverse environmental impacts as well as irrevocable impacts to quality of life for local communities.
“Having witnessed the extraordinary efforts of dedicated local citizens to take control of their fate and the fate of Digby Neck, and to have their opposition to this project known, I’m so happy that these recommendations finally give us all something to celebrate,” said Laura Hussey, Marine Coordinator for CPAWS-NS.
CPAWS, Canada’s pre-eminent wilderness protection organization, was involved in opposing the quarry due to the high conservation value of the Digby Neck area, and the impacts that large-scale industrial development could have on this ecologically important yet vulnerable marine and coastal ecosystem.
The panel’s recommendations not only include rejecting the Whites Point quarry, but also that Nova Scotia develop and implement a coastal policy to help better manage coastal developments throughout the province.
“This is exactly what Nova Scotians have been asking for, a comprehensive way to ensure we can protect our sensitive coasts while still enabling appropriate development to take place,” said Hussey. “We are ‘Canada’s ocean playground’ yet we have not taken the necessary steps to be stewards of our beautiful oceans and coasts. These recommendations from the panel are a wake up call that we need to start doing just that.”
With the submission of the panel’s recommendations and report, both the provincial Minister of Environment and Labour, Mark Parent, and federal Environment Minister John Baird must now make the final decision on whether or not the quarry and marine terminal will be allowed to proceed. With such a clear message from the review panel on the anticipated negative impacts of the project, CPAWS anticipates that the decision of the Ministers will heed this carefully considered advice.
Says Hussey: “The people of Digby Neck have spoken and now so has the panel, and their response is a resound ‘no’ to this quarry. We can only hope and wait to see if the Ministers are listening.”
For more information, contact:
Laura Hussey
Marine Coordinator
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Nova Scotia Chapter (CPAWS-NS)
1526 Dresden Row, Halifax
Ph: (902) 446-4155
Fax: (902) 446-4156
lhussey@cpawsns.org
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