Government officials will miss first tar ponds assessment deadline

Cape Breton Post
Sat., May 14, 2005

SYDNEY — Provincial and federal governments will fail to meet the first deadline in a proposed timeline for assessing the tar ponds and coke ovens cleanup.

However, the two parties continue to talk, said Gordon Harris, senior communications adviser at Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency. "We continue to work together to develop a timely process."

During an announcement in early May, Ottawa unveiled an ambitious panel review process that had the two levels of government working out a draft joint panel agreement hy Monday. "We're confident we can reach an agreement," he said, Friday. "Up until now, discussions have been fruitful."

Harris declined to speculate on how long it will take for an agreement to be reached but said it will be soon. Once the draft is ready, the public will have 30 days to comment on it.