Nashwaak Watershed Association Encourages Participation in Sisson Mine Consultation

The Nashwaak Watershed Association (NWAI) has been an active participant in the joint federal and provincial review process for the Sisson mine project. Since 2008, we have been actively monitoring developments around the project and meeting with mine officials. In 2009, the NWAI contributed comments to the draft Comprehensive Guidelines for the provincial environmental assessment. Meeting regularly with Geodex and then Northcliff officials, in the fall of 2013, we hired scientific experts to evaluate the project’s impacts on Atlantic salmon habitat and on water quality. We also organized and hosted information sessions in Stanley, Taymouth and Fredericton, and conducted a survey on community knowledge and engagement on the Sisson Project. For some of these activities, we were supported through funding from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA). CEAA is currently preparing a report on its findings regarding the environmental and social impacts of the proposed mine. We do not know when this report will be released for public comment.

The Province of New Brunswick has now entered into the public consultation phase of the provincial Environmental Impact Assessment process. We are encouraged to see that a public hearing will be hosted by the provincial government in the watershed, in the community most directly affected – Stanley. At this meeting, you will have an opportunity to hear about the results of the CEAA funded work on potential mine impacts on Atlantic salmon, water quality and around community engagement by the mine officials.