Key takeaways:
- Atlantic Gold wants to keep tailings in an open mining pit.
- The Touquoy mine area in Moose River is run by Atlantic Mining N.S. Inc., better known as Atlantic Gold.
Nova Scotia’s environment minister states he still does not have sufficient data from Atlantic Gold to decide on suggested modifications to its Touquoy mine area in Moose River, N.S.
In a letter sent to Atlantic Gold on Thursday, Tim Halman asked for more details on water modeling, the project’s effect on ground and surface water, mitigation steps to control the possible contamination of Moose River, historic tailings, and fish and fish habitat.
The firm wants to keep the tailings — the material that stays after ore has been processed for gold — in the open mining pit because its existing storage space is anticipated to run out of room.
According to the plan, the pit would be authorized to fill with water and seep into the Moose River.
The firm says it would treat the water before being released into the river.
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Atlantic Gold also wants to raise the specified storage space for waste rock, move an access road and let the firm extract clay from more of its land.
Last September, the region also demanded more info after the firm offered a change plan to the mine in July.
The minister’s letter demanded more information on the site’s geology and how fault zones would be closed to stop leakage into the Moose River.
According to the letter, Atlantic Gold has one year to offer the information requested to supplement the document. The minister has 50 days to conclude.
Once the supplement is registered, the letter says a public notice will be issued, and there will be a 30-day public comment period.
Source – cbc.ca
