Province Approves Lease to Pioneer Coal

The province has approved a land lease to Pioneer Coal for expansion of the company's surface coal mine in Stellarton, Pictou Co.

"This project is an important economic development opportunity for Stellarton," said Richard Hurlburt, Minister of Natural Resources. "It will provide jobs for the area and restore lands impacted by past underground mining operations to a condition in which other uses can be considered."

Pioneer Coal Ltd. operates a surface coal mine west of MacGregor Avenue. The mine, which has operated since 1996, has produced about 1.6 million tonnes of coal from the Foord, Cage and New seams in the area west of MacGregor Avenue and south of Foster Avenue. Stellarton coal has been blended on site with coal from elsewhere in Pictou County and Inverness County for use in the Nova Scotia Power thermal generation station in Trenton.

Both the area of the existing mine and the proposed expansion are heavily impacted by past underground mining. The company is currently restoring land in the area of its existing operation.

The province will lease 84 hectares of Crown land east of MacGregor Avenue to Pioneer Coal for seven years. The company has started immediate reclamation of the Foord seam site. Reclamation of the other two seams, Cage and New, will be completed by the end of 2005.

The expansion was approved in principle under the environmental assessment process. The company must comply with all municipal, provincial and federal laws and regulations as well as obtain any permits or approvals required for the purpose of the lease.