Residents want water, land, wildlife protection enshrined in N.S. mining law

Lydia Jenkinson and her husband Paul live in an area of the province where geologists think there's gold and possibly plenty of it.

But they say it'stheir drinking water that's most precious to them.

That's why they and some of their friends and neighbours descended on Province House Monday to appear before a legislature committee examining changes to the Mineral Resources Act.

"I'm very concerned about having a tailings pond full of heavy metals like cyanidein a watershed area," Lydia Jenkinson told the all-party committee, referring toa section of northern Nova Scotia identified as the Eastern Cobequid Highlands.

Provincial geologists have been exploring the area and conducting tests to determine its makeup over the past several yearsas part of what the government is calling theWarwick Mountain Project.

Worries about contamination

But it's not the region'sgeological potential that excites those who live in the region it's what's already there.

"Drinking water, water used for farmingand water used for other sustainable business can all be contaminated by a mine operation," said Paul Jenkinson.

The amendmentsbeing proposed by the McNeilgovernment pertain to an appeals process and have nothing to do with their concerns.Nor is there a proposal for a mineyet or even commercial exploration in the area.

"Prospectors, gold mining companies, mining companies coming into the province to come in fast, go out fast and leave a big mess," is how MargarettaSanders described her fears of a mining operation near her home.

"In our neck of the woods, northern Nova Scotia, we actually can drink water from our wells," she told the committee."Drinking water is the new gold!"

Gregor Wilson, whose family owns Ski Wentworth, said a mining operation could put the family-run facility in jeopardy.

"I doubt a minister would approve such a mine location in the middle of our ski area but the fact that it could happen gives me serious concerns in the current legislation," he said. "Water is far more valuable tocitizens of Nova Scotia than gold can ever be."

Proposed restrictions

The group would like mining, prospecting and exploration restricted in a number ofspecific areas, including:

• Community watersheds.
• Important watercourses and wetlands.
• Prime agricultural land.
• National parks or historic sites.
• Private nature conservancies.

The Department of Natural Resources is hoping to issue a call for proposals for exploration by May and approve a proponent by August.

Any further work to develop a mine would be subject to environmental assessments and industrial approvals.