Four of six appeals of the contentious Alton Natural Gas storage facility planned for Colchester County have been dismissed by the province’s environment minister.
The underground storage facility was approved in January following a variety of scientific assessment and consultations with First Nations communities, however by February several groups were protesting the project.
READ MORE: First Nations, environmental groups appealing Alton gas project approval
The appeals brought forth by both environmental groups and First Nations claim that there were no proper consultations nor proper considerations made on the environmental impacts.
“I’m not happy with the the decision, of course,” Sipekne’katik First Nation Chief Rufus Copage said Monday.
“I do feel that my community was not given enough consultation.”
The government, however, maintains their consultation portion of the approval process was sufficient.
“Having carefully reviewed the information presented to me by the appellants and staff, I am satisfied that there has been ample opportunity for the public and First Nations to provide input on this project, and that the province’s duty to consult with our First Nations people has been met,” Minister Margaret Miller said in a release.
She added that she believes the reports into the environmental impacts sufficiently considered the impact to the Shubenacadie River.
Miller will have to make a decision on the other two appeals by April 25.
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