Minister's Decision

On February 3, 2004, the Minister of Environment and Labour released a decision (PDF:16k) concerning this review. The Minister has decided to approve the undertaking in accordance with Section 13(1)b of the Environmental Assessment Regulations, pursuant to Part IV of the Environment Act.

The undertaking has been approved subject to a number of conditions (PDF:19k). The proponent is required to obtain all other necessary approvals, permits or authorizations before commencing work on the undertaking.

Status Update

On August 14, 2014, Department of Environment and Climate Change received information (PDF:6.4mb) from Pioneer Coal Limited regarding Pioneer Coal’s request to blast at the Stellarton Surface Coal Mine. Throughout the project, mechanical means have been strictly used to extract the overburden and coal. However, an approximately 10 m (33 ft) thick, dipping band of cap rock has been encountered which requires the application of explosives (blasting) to remove it. The current EA approval prohibits blasting and an amendment to the EA approval by the Minister is required to allow the blasting to proceed. The information is currently under review by the department.

Opportunities for Public Input

Public comments regarding Pioneer Coal’s request to amend the Environmental Assessment Approval to permit blasting at the Stellarton Surface Coal Mine will be accepted from August 22, 2014 to September 22, 2014. The public is invited to submit written comments to: Environmental Assessment Branch Department of Environment and Climate Change P.O. Box 442, Halifax, NS, B3J 2P8 on or before September 22, 2014 or contact the department at (902) 424-2574, (902) 424-0503 (Fax), or e-mail (EA@gov.ns.ca)

Project Documents

• Public Notice (PDF:35k)
• Minister's Decision (PDF:16k)
• Terms and Conditions of Approval (PDF:19k)
• Pioneer Coal Request to Amend EA Approval (PDF:6.4mb)

Registration Documents

• Registration Document - Volume 1 (PDF:7.8mb)
• Appendix A Reference List
• Appendix B Current Approvals and Correspondence
• Cover, Appendices A & B (PDF:8.5mb)
• Appendix C Summary of Monitoring Results
• Appendix C1 - Dust
• Appendix C2 - Noise
• Appendix C3 - Surface Water Chemistry
• Appendix C4 - Groundwater Levels
• Appendix C5 - Baseline Surface Water Chemistry (2003)
• Appendices C, C1-C5 (PDF:8.1mb)
• Appendix C6 - Baseline Noise Levels - Extension Area (2003) (PDF:3.8mb)
• Appendix D - Site Photographs and Aerial Photographs (PDF:3.6mb)
• Appendix E - Nova Scotia Energy Strategy "Seizing the Opportunity" Part V Coal
• Appendix F - Noise and Dust Assessment
• Appendices E & F (PDF:7.4mb)
• Appendix G - Fish Habitat and Benthic Organism Assessments
• Appendix G (Part 1) (PDF:8.7mb)
• Appendix G (Part 2) (PDF:2.6mb)
• Appendix H Nova Scotia Musuem Environmental Screening
• Appendix I Department of Natural Resources Terrestrial Survey
• Appendix J CCM First Nations Screening
• Appendix K Coal Mine Reactivity Analysis
• Appendices H, I, J, K (PDF:9mb)