Terms of Reference

Review of Donkin Export Coking Coal Project Environmental Assessment

Regional Science Special Response Process – Maritimes Region

Part 1 – Review of Draft: May 2012 (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia)
Part 2 – Review of Final: July 2012 (Dartmouth, Nova Scotia)

Chairperson: Trevor Floyd

Context

Fisheries and Oceans Canada's (DFO) Habitat Management Division, Maritimes Region, is reviewing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the re-opening of Donkin Coal Mine in Sydney, Cape Breton, to determine if the project is likely to result in negative impacts to fish and fish habitat. The project will involve the construction of a below sea-bed coal mine as well as the potential for a marine load-out facility in Sydney Harbour, Nova Scotia. The project is being assessed under a harmonized provincial and federal environmental assessment process. As a responsible authority under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, DFO is required to assess and make a determination of the significance of the environmental effects associated with the project. DFO Ecosystem Management has asked DFO Science to review the draft EIS.

Objectives

The objective of the SSRP is to provide science advice on the following questions:

• Based on the project as proposed, are the environmental effects identified complete for: freshwater fish and fish habitat; the marine environment; and, commercial and recreational fisheries?
• Are the methodologies used to describe these effects appropriate?
• In consideration of the methodology used, do the results support the conclusions as presented

Expected Publications

• Science Response

Participation

• DFO Science
• DFO Ecosystem Management