Public Meeting Silver Mountain Hydro Electric Development Proposal

Kevin Aylward, Minister of Environment and Labour, announced today that a public meeting will be held to organize an information focus group for the proposed Silver Mountain Hydro Electric Development. The meeting will take place in Corner Brook at the West Viking College Lecture Theatre at 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 31.

The purpose of the group is to provide an opportunity for information exchange and public input for the environmental assessment of the proposed hydro development on the Upper Humber River. The focus group is being set up at the request of residents in the area and the local MHAs. The group will enhance the exchange of information between government's Environmental Assessment Committee, concerned citizens and the proponent.

On January 8, 1997, the minister announced that Deer Lake Power Company would be required to undertake a full and thorough environmental assessment of this project and prepare an environmental impact statement. This must be done prior to government's decision on whether to allow the hydro development to proceed.

The minister stated "There has been an unusually high level of interest by the public in this project. This focus group will help ensure full and accurate information is available to those interested. And, help ensure good public input throughout our environmental assessment process. This focus group will not receive funding from the provincial government."

MHA for Humber East, Robert Mercer, said: "The focus group will be a useful forum for the discussion of technical issues throughout the environmental assessment process. This project raises important issues for residents of this area and we encourage people to make their views known to government."

The minister has appointed an assessment committee which is currently developing guidelines for terms of reference for the environmental impact statement. The focus group will have an opportunity to provide input into the preparation of the guidelines.

Contact: Sean Kelly, Director of Communications, (709) 729-2575.