The Nashwaak Watershed

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NWAI presents to the Sisson Review Panel

July 17, 2015

IMAG2172As the president of the Nashwaak Watershed Association, and as such, a participant in several meetings and consultations with the Sisson project proponents, I respectfully submit the following comments on behalf of that organization.

I would like to suggest that, had anything resembling the standards employed in the other study areas of this EIA been applied to the public engagement component, we might be having a very different discussion about what concerns the public have developed regarding this project.

To begin with, the proponent had no method for establishing a baseline for the public’s understanding of the project and project processes. They were unaware of the functional literacy rate within that population (and then unbelieving when informed that it was slightly north of 60%). They had no means of measuring the efficacy of their communication, no feedback method.

They refused to speak in public forums in any of the communities within the watershed, and ignored invitations to attend the dinner and discussion sessions which we held as part of our public engagement in the EIA.

They claimed to have sent out 700 letters, to some people, somewhere, but never stated who they were, what criteria was used to determine who would get the letters and no reference to what the letters said. As an aside I might point out that the NWAI produces a newsletter and sends it to more than 7000 homes all within the watershed, and a copy of each one is available on our website.

I suspect, it is common practice in any branch of science (social or otherwise) to provide a rationale for the method chosen before undertaking any work. That work is of little purpose if it does not employ metrics which can support a conclusion, and doubly meaningless, in the absence of any conclusion.

It is hard to find a purpose for the insouciant efforts of Northcliff (the proponent of record at that time) in what they claim was public engagement.

It would seem impossible to claim public support for the project without having actually spoken to that public in public.

For that reason, we suggest that whether you decide to support the mine or not, you certainly have no basis for claiming that the public was “engaged”. .

As further evidence of the distance between what is generally understood as “public engagement” and what the proponent did, we might compare their “open houses and BBQ” system with the panel review meeting held recently in the town of Stanley. At that meeting, individuals and members of concerned organizations and businesses were allowed to speak at some length, and to ask and have answered, their questions.

Other participants were allowed to hear both the statements and the questions and answers offered.

All of those in attendance, benefitted from hearing these exchanges, and those exchanges then spawned other ideas and questions in an additive way, utilizing the communities’ collective experience and intelligence that only an open forum can give. It was both effective in spreading the information and fair in allowing everyone with the interest to be heard by their community.

If this was what our own government thought was the required means of engagement, then one must conclude that the Northcliff group did not meet that expectation, and therefore did not fulfill the requirement for public engagement.

Finally and as a side note, we note that a study undertaken by a private engineering firm, on behalf of the provincial government (see Sisson Mine review finds company underestimated costs by millions) into the post closure water treatment costs that raised serious concerns about both very low cost estimates and the methodology to be employed (specifically a floating baffle curtain wall) was never made available to the public.

Quite simply put, without a full disclosure of the best available information on this project and it’s social, fiscal and environmental impacts, it is impossible to make an informed decision. It is demonstrably the case that the public was not consulted, and it would appear, quite deliberately so.

Until this is done the project must not proceed.

P. McLaughlin, President,
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Filed Under: News & Events Tagged With: sison mine

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NWAI on Twitter

@ASDWLimelight @ASDWLimelight @MusicAsdw Check it out

- 49 days ago

Mr. Woodcock's talented gr 12 FHS music class joined us at Marysville Flats this week! We talked climate change and floodplain restoration. We're excited to hear what they create from their Nashwaak River trip. Kudos to the NB Dept of Ed for supporting this awesome experience! https://t.co/6nGyCy7XBP

- 50 days ago

Thanks for supporting this outdoor learning opportunity. Come visit anytime. It was a pleasure to spend time talking about water, climate change and floodplain restoration. @ASD_West @ASDWLimelight @FHSkats @CityFredGov @CityFredRec #eaunbwater #mynashwaak https://t.co/ALhfzSS123

- 52 days ago

Thanks @mla_mike for leading crown land conservation! https://t.co/ObSdrLvBcq

- 54 days ago

@Andrew__Holland @mla_mike @Gov_NB @NCC_CNC Excellent work!

- 54 days ago

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

10 hours ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
It’s almost time for river ice monitoring! Each year, we conduct river ice surveys along the Nashwaak River throughout the winter and spring as a part of GNB’s River Watch Program. The information collected in these ground-based surveys helps the province keep track of the state of our rivers and streams, and can actually be used to forecast potential floods. During the surveys, we record ice types and concentrations, snow and ice thickness, surface and shore conditions, and many other parameters. This information is especially important to collect during ice jams, as they can increase water levels upstream and result in flooding. Keep an eye out for us along the Nashwaak and check back for more ice monitoring updates over the coming months. #MyNashwaak #eauNBwater ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

1 day ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
A big thank you to everyone who who whooo joined us and @atlanticducks for the first of our three Owls, Stars and Snowshoes events. It was beautiful evening to be in the winter forest with you folks ❄️🌲🦉#nighthike #owlcalling #community #hotchocolate #nashwaakwatershed ... See MoreSee Less

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Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.

5 days ago

Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
Though still SOLD OUT, we wanted to make sure everyone knew that our event has been moved to Sunday the 5th due to the extremely cold forecast tomorrow. Same time, same place, same adventure. If you have tickets and this is news to you, please check your junk mail for any missed Eventbrite updates. Cheers ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Mail:
Nashwaak Watershed Association Inc.
P.O. Box 314, Station “A”
Fredericton, NB
E3B 4Y2

Office:
181 Westmorland Street
Fredericton, NB
E3B 3L6
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Phone: 506 447-9699
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