Beaver Dam Mine Proposal

Beaver Dam Mine Project

Impact Assessment Agency of Canada 

200-1801 Hollis Street

Halifax, Nova Scotia

B3J 3N4 

I am writing in response to the revised Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Beaver Dam Mine Project. The information contained in the revised EIS does not fully address the concerns raised by our association, the NSSA, regarding the proposed work as outlined in the extensive documentation. Our association believes that the company has not made significant progress in addressing the potential negative impact for the West River watershed and the adjacent sub-watersheds. The association believes that the following concerns have yet to be properly addressed:

We encourage you to review our draft submission for direction on concerns that we believe are at the forefront of the issue. Here are our six main concerns:

• The West River is too valuable to accept any level of risk
• The revised EIS does not adequately consider the watershed downstream from the mine footprint
• The proposed quarry pit is simply too close to the Killag River (Cameron Flowage)
• The spatial extent of the proposed work is too large and unnecessarily encroaches on adjacent sub-watersheds
• The benefits to Nova Scotia are minor relative to the value of the restoration project and the conservation progress already realized
• The NSSA generally lacks confidence that Atlantic Gold will prioritize protection of the environment and the West River Restoration Project

In summation, the association is strongly opposed to the proposed Beaver Dam Mine project. The West River watershed and adjacent sub-watersheds are valuable and vulnerable resources that need our constant protection. We stand in solidarity with our partner conservation associations and the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia in opposition to this proposal.

On behalf of the association, I respectfully submit our response to the EIS.

Sincerely,
Gordon MacDonald