News Release (February 19, 2003)

For Immediate Release

February 19, 2003

The Facilitator for the Petitcodiac River Causeway Environmental Impact Assessment is reminding all stakeholders and interested members of the public that February 28 is the final day for providing comments or suggestions in response to draft 'Terms of Reference' for the EIA.

"Our Study Team released the draft document in advance of four introductory public sessions held across the watershed area in late January," said Jacques Paynter.

"We encourage everyone who wants to give us general feedback, as well as those with specific suggestions on the Draft Terms of Reference, to get their views in, and 'on the record' by February 28, 2003," he said. "This is a critical date to allow the process to move forward."

Mr. Paynter is the Study Facilitator for the AMEC Earth & Environmental Ltd. consortium charged with completing the Petitcodiac River Causeway EIA Study by Spring 2005.

"One of our constant goals throughout this EIA will be making active participation in the process as easy as it can be, for people throughout the Petitcodiac River watershed area. There are several different ways of contacting us to provide comments or ask questions about any aspect of the study as it goes forward," Mr. Paynter said.

"Anyone who wants to reach me with their questions or concerns can call 855-3070 in Moncton, dial 1-888-638-7700, or send an email to: jacques.paynter@amec.com Comments can also be sent by fax to (506) 857-9974."

For those who prefer to mail in their written comments, or drop them off personally to AMEC's Moncton office, the street address is: AMEC Earth & Environmental Ltd., 1133 St. George Boulevard, Moncton, NB, E1E 4E1.

Roughly 250 people participated in the four public sessions held between January 27 and 30 in Salisbury, Hillsborough, Moncton and Memramcook .

"The feedback we received during those opening sessions was very useful and, since then, the input has continued coming in on various aspects of the draft Terms of Reference," said Mr. Paynter.

"The document released in January was a draft 'blueprint' on how we plan to approach all aspects of the EIA study over the next two years. The stakeholder groups and local residents we've heard from so far have made it clear they want to participate actively in this process. This is very good news for our Study Team, as public involvement is a critically important requirement in a comprehensive EIA like this."

Mr. Paynter confirmed that all input received will be retained and summarized, then made accessible to the public through the Petitcodiac River Causeway EIA web site, which can be located at www.petitcodiac.com

"Our target for producing final Terms of Reference for this EIA study is mid-March, and that document will also be made public, as soon as it is completed," he said.

Mr. Paynter noted that the Study Team's next public consultation event will be an in-depth workshop on biophysical assessment and the identification of issues for hydrodynamic and sediment transport modelling. The details on scheduling and registration for this workshop will be announced soon.

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

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