OTTAWA, July 16, 2015 — 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 environmental review of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project, near Blairmore, Alberta.
Funding is available for eligible individuals and groups to participate in the upcoming environmental assessment, including reviewing and providing comments on the Review Panel Terms of Reference and the Environmental Impact Statement, and preparing for and participating in the public hearing. Funding will also assist participants in commenting on the potential conditions that would be required, if the project is allowed to proceed.
To apply for funding, email the Participant Funding Program at [email protected] or call 1-866-582-1884. The Application Form — Environmental Assessment by Review Panel is available on the Agency website under Participant Funding.
Applications received by August 31, 2015 will be considered. Recipients and the amount of funding allocated will be announced at a later date.
Environment Minister, Leona Aglukkaq, recently referred the environmental assessment of the proposed Grassy Mountain Coal Project to an independent review panel.
The project proponent, 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.
To be included on the distribution list and be kept informed of the panel review process and activities, provide an email address to [email protected]. Information on the project and the environmental assessment process is available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, reference number 80101.