next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
--Boundary_(ID_18h9xrGql1ch09kBCiOXcA)
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
Nova Scotia wilderness areas under threat
Synopsis
The Tobeatic Protection Alliance (TOPA) is a coalition of groups
concerned with the protection of wilderness in Nova Scotia. Nova
Scotia protects 31 wilderness areas under the Wilderness Area
Protection Act which encourages "voluntary planning and management of
land adjoining or affecting wilderness areas in a manner consistent
with the purpose of this Act..." to protect wilderness. Despite this,
resource extraction is permitted on the private and public lands
surrounding wilderness areas. The Nova Scotia government is allowing
a quartz mine on the border of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area. TOPA has
science to prove that the mine could have severe negative impacts on
the Tobeatic, but the government does not agree. That there is any
doubt whatsoever about the potential impacts should be sufficient to
require further study. This situation sets a dangerous precedent for
the future of all wilderness areas in Nova Scotia.
Backround
In 2002 NS Environment and Labour (DEL) granted conditional approved
for a quartz mine on the boundary of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area
(TWA), the largest of all 31 wilderness areas. The approval was made
despite evidence, presented by TOPA, that a crucial part of the
scientific information provided by the proponent was flawed, and
despite concerns expressed by government staff about potential
impacts on the adjacent wilderness area and Clyde River watershed.
The main basis for concern is that the hydrology study contains
insufficient data input on water drawdown. Consequently all
conclusions derived from this data will be flawed.
DEL expressed satisfaction that all environmental concerns can be
addressed through the Environmental Effects Monitoring program that
Black Bull Inc. must develop as a condition for approval. Monitoring,
mitigation and compensation will not protect this wilderness. Once
you notice negative impacts the damage has already been done. It is
essential that the proponent conduct more research on water drawdown
before any further action is taken on the proposed mine. That DEL is
willing to take a risk on the environment in the face of evidence
about the potentially disastrous impacts on the TWA and adjacent
watershed does not bode well for the future of wilderness and
protected areas in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotians value their wilderness
and they deserve the highest degree of confidence in all scientific
decisions that impact on wilderness areas. DEL needs a reminder that
their job is to protect the environment, not industry!
Action
Write the Minister of Environment and Labour and copy to the Premier
and, if you are Nova Scotian, to your MLA. Please cc via email to
TOPA at topa@hfx.eastlink.ca. Recommend DEL require Black Bull
Resources Inc. to conduct further studies on the groundwater drawdown
from the quartz mine on the borders of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area
and state that monitoring will only address the situation when too
late. Nova Scotia has one of the highest losses of biodiversity in
Canada and Canadian cannot afford to lose more by threatening
protected areas. Call for a moratorium on resource extraction on
public lands adjacent to all wilderness areas in NS.
Personalized letters are most effective. See example of letter and
addresses on the Tobeatic Wilderness Committee's website at
http://www.tartannet.ns.ca/~tobeatic.
--Boundary_(ID_18h9xrGql1ch09kBCiOXcA)
Content-type: text/enriched; charset=us-ascii
Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT
<fontfamily><param>Courier_New</param><bigger>Nova Scotia wilderness
areas under threat
Synopsis
The Tobeatic Protection Alliance (TOPA) is a coalition of groups
concerned with the protection of wilderness in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia
protects 31 wilderness areas under the Wilderness Area Protection Act
which encourages "voluntary planning and management of land adjoining
or affecting wilderness areas in a manner consistent with the purpose
of this Act..." to protect wilderness. Despite this, resource
extraction is permitted on the private and public lands surrounding
wilderness areas. The Nova Scotia government is allowing a quartz mine
on the border of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area. TOPA has science to
prove that the mine could have severe negative impacts on the Tobeatic,
but the government does not agree. That there is any doubt whatsoever
about the potential impacts should be sufficient to require further
study. This situation sets a dangerous precedent for the future of all
wilderness areas in Nova Scotia.
Backround
In 2002 NS Environment and Labour (DEL) granted conditional approved
for a quartz mine on the boundary of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area
(TWA), the largest of all 31 wilderness areas. The approval was made
despite evidence, presented by TOPA, that a crucial part of the
scientific information provided by the proponent was flawed, and
despite concerns expressed by government staff about potential impacts
on the adjacent wilderness area and Clyde River watershed. The main
basis for concern is that the hydrology study contains insufficient
data input on water drawdown. Consequently all conclusions derived from
this data will be flawed.
DEL expressed satisfaction that all environmental concerns can be
addressed through the Environmental Effects Monitoring program that
Black Bull Inc. must develop as a condition for approval. Monitoring,
mitigation and compensation will not protect this wilderness. Once you
notice negative impacts the damage has already been done. It is
essential that the proponent conduct more research on water drawdown
before any further action is taken on the proposed mine. That DEL is
willing to take a risk on the environment in the face of evidence about
the potentially disastrous impacts on the TWA and adjacent watershed
does not bode well for the future of wilderness and protected areas in
Nova Scotia. Nova Scotians value their wilderness and they deserve the
highest degree of confidence in all scientific decisions that impact on
wilderness areas. DEL needs a reminder that their job is to protect the
environment, not industry!
Action
Write the Minister of Environment and Labour and copy to the Premier
and, if you are Nova Scotian, to your MLA. Please cc via email to TOPA
at topa@hfx.eastlink.ca. Recommend DEL require Black Bull Resources
Inc. to conduct further studies on the groundwater drawdown from the
quartz mine on the borders of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area and state
that monitoring will only address the situation when too late. Nova
Scotia has one of the highest losses of biodiversity in Canada and
Canadian cannot afford to lose more by threatening protected areas.
Call for a moratorium on resource extraction on public lands adjacent
to all wilderness areas in NS.
Personalized letters are most effective. See example of letter and
addresses on the Tobeatic Wilderness Committee's website at
http://www.tartannet.ns.ca/~tobeatic.
</bigger></fontfamily>
--Boundary_(ID_18h9xrGql1ch09kBCiOXcA)--
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
SUST-MAR is provided FREE by the Chebucto Community Net and YOU!
For more info, please send "info sust-mar" to majordomo@chebucto.ca
CBC enviro news-briefs follow:
-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
MUNICIPALITIES EYE FEDERAL BUDGET FOR HELP
Local politicians are hoping more money is coming their way to fix crumbling infrastructure.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_leefebudget20030217
DEEP PANUKE SLOWS OTHER OFFSHORE PROJECTS
A natural gas project has been
put on hold in the Maritimes. That means major losses for
others in the region's oil and gas
industry.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_oil030215
ENCANA REQUESTS 'TIME OUT' ON N.S. GAS DEVELOPMENT
EnCana Corporation is stalling its Deep Panuke natural gas development off the coast of Nova Scotia. The Calgary-based energy company has asked federal and provincial regulators
for a "time out" in the regulatory approval process.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_encanadeep20030214
LEGION PUMPED UP ABOUT SERVING GAS
Members of the Canadian Legion in Nova Scotia want gas retailers to limit
the number of gas stations they convert to self-serve pumps.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_gaslegion20030214
PROVINCE WON'T INCREASE REBATE CHEQUES
Heating oil prices may continue to rise, but
low income Nova Scotians should not look for extra
help from the provincial government.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_heatrebate20030213
URANIUM DISCOVERED IN SCHOOL DRINKING WATER
Some Nova Scotia students will have to continue drinking bottled water. The
latest round of water tests show three schools have higher than acceptable
levels of uranium.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_uraniumwater20030213
TORIES DIGGING DEEP TO COVER SNOW COSTS?
Cleaning up after this winter's snow storms has put the Transportation Department $4 million over budget.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_snowsurplus20030213
HIGH FUEL PRICES NOT MAKING N.S. RICH: LEBLANC
Nova Scotia's finance minister insists the province
is not bringing in a huge tax windfall because of the high
price of gasoline and home heating oil.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_gastax20030213
FINE FOR CAT KILLER 'WOEFULLY INADEQUATE': SPCA
The SPCA is speaking out against
a $350 fine handed to a Cape Breton man who
killed a kitten by smashing its head.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_spcafine20030213
© Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects