Fwd: Opposition to Beaver Dam mine

Reference Number
179
Text
  • Reference Num:80111

I am writing to present my opposition to the Beaver Dam mine. As I sit here writing this piece it is Dec 12 ,2021 and winter temperatures are reaching 18c. We are in a very obvious climate emergency!!! We DO NOT NEED GOLD MINES in NOVA SCOTIA that will further drive this climate emergency. Their main existence is structured around  a cash grab operation that does not care about the environment, community or people's health. 

 

  1. Gold is not a critical mineral and does not justify the existence of open pit mines in NS.
  2. There is a great deal of environmental destruction that occurs because of these mines.
  3. Placing gold mines next to Atlantic Salmon rivers is ludacris and insane. Atlantic Salmon are a species at risk. The operation of this gold mine will negatively impact the future of Atlantic Salmon.
  4. Nova Scotia Salmon Association has invested a great deal of time and money into rejuvenating salmon stocks in this part of the province. Acid rain was an area of concern for many years as a result of industry air pollution. Allowing this mine to operate over this area is taking the province back to the early 80s! the 17 year acid rain mitigation project and its results will be undone by the existence of Beaver Dam mine.
  5. Atlantic Gold had 32 environmental infractions in their short tenure of operating. This is unacceptable and the people of Nova Scotia should not have to assume this risk.
  6. The destruction of land to build an open pit 31 hectare mine is unnecessary and does not support Nova Scotia's tourism strategy. Why would we want these craters blown into our province and then have to live with the destruction for many years to come? 
  7. Gold mines operate, make their money and leave! The people of Nova Scotia are left with owning the risk and cost of clean up. All you need to do is look at Goldenville and the health warnings plastered around the property warning residents not to go near 48 Million dollars to clean up these toxic and containaminted mines. Who is going to own this going forward? 
  8. Extreme Air Pollution and Water Pollution issues.  31 KM haul road proposed to connect Beaver Dam with Tourquoy processing will be used 190 times per day for 16 hours per day. 350 days a year for 5 years!!  Is this really supportive of the climate emergency we are in? 
  9. Fish, birds and those that use wetlands in the area are now put at unjustified risk. 
  10. The province really needs to take climate change seriously. 200mm of rain fell within 24 hours 2 weeks ago. Rivers swelled, water flooded communities, dwellings, and displaced people from their homes. Now consider the devastation of a tailings pond overflowing its banks to the common cycle of extreme weather we are now seeing. Now you have a poison cocktail of tailings flowing into water tables, impacting human consumption and poisoning and killing animals and endangered species. 

I do not support the Beaver Dam mine proposal. Gold mining is a practice to make a few executives rich while placing extreme risk on people of Nova Scotia and their environment .

 

Mark Dort

Submitted by
Administrator on behalf of Mark Dort
Phase
N/A
Public Notice
Public Notice - Public Comments Invited on a Revised Summary of the Environmental Impact Statement
Attachment(s)
N/A
Date Submitted
2021-12-14
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