(03-01-17)

For Immediate Release

January 17, 2003

The Study Team conducting the Petitcodiac River Causeway Environmental Impact Assessment will release its draft Terms of Reference on Wednesday, January 22, and four public consultation sessions have been scheduled for later this month.

AMEC is leading the Study Team hired to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on behalf of the NB Department of Supply and Services. The Study Team also includes Jacques Whitford Environment Limited, ADI Ltd., GEMTEC Ltd., the Canadian Hydraulic Centre and Gardner Pinfold Consulting Economists Ltd.

Copies of the draft Terms of Reference will be available free of charge by calling AMEC's Petitcodiac River Causeway EIA office at: (506) 855-3070 or 1-888-638-7700. The document will also be available on the Petitcodiac River Causeway EIA web site, located at: www.petitcodiac.com. Copies of the printed version will also be available at the Moncton office of AMEC, located at 1133 St. George Boulevard, Moncton, E1E 4E1.

Terms of Reference are established at the outset of an EIA to identify plans for generating information and undertaking the analyses required to meet the Province's Guidelines in the final Study Report. The specific methods that will be used to carry out the technical examinations required, as well as the associated public consultation program, are a central focus for the Terms of Reference.

Jacques Paynter of AMEC heads the public consultation aspects of the EIA and confirmed that four 'town hall' meetings to introduce the Study Team and discuss the Terms of Reference will be held across the Petitcodiac watershed area in late January. The dates, times and locations for these public sessions are as follows:

Monday, January 27 - Salisbury

J.M. Armstrong Regional High School

Tuesday, January 28 - Hillsborough

Hank Braam Kiwanis Centre

Wednesday, January 29 - Moncton

Moncton Lions Senior Citizens Centre

Thursday, January 30 - Memramcook

Monument Lefebvre

Open House at each location 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Town Hall Meeting at each location 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.

"Public input at this early stage can be most helpful in identifying key issues as the study goes forward," Mr. Paynter said.

"Our target for completing the overall EIA study is the Spring of 2005. By holding our first public consultations as early as possible, we want to ensure all interested citizens, stakeholders and Aboriginal communities in the region have a chance to comment on the draft Terms of Reference before we submit them to the Department of Supply and Services for final approval."

Mr. Paynter noted that a harmonized federal/provincial EIA process has been designed for this particular study to satisfy the requirements of New Brunswick's EIA Regulation, as well as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The goal of the EIA is to identify a long-term solution to fish passage and ecosystem issues relating to the existing causeway.

For further information contact:
Jacques Paynter - (506) 855-3070 or 1-888-638-7700

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