Bill Bryden of the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition for Aquaculture Reform (NL-CAR) submitted a letter requesting the appeal on July 12.
“We are appealing on the grounds that the decision to allow this project to proceed without ordering an environmental impact statement is contrary to the principles, purpose, and requirements of the (Environmental Protection Act) and is therefore unreasonable and unlawful,” Bryden wrote in the letter.
“Moreover, the project was not adequately described regarding several issues. Releasing a project without a full description allows for only internal review of issues and mitigation strategies wit out public scrutiny in contravention of the Environment Act and Regulations.”
Joyce responded to Bryden’s concerns and explained her decision in a seven-page letter, which can be read in its entirety here, noting the appeal had been sent to several key provincial and federal government agencies.
Earlier, this year, a Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador judge overturned former environment minister Perry Trimper’s decision to release Grieg NL’s salmon aquaculture project on the Burin Peninsula from further environmental assessment, ruling he did not have the authority to do so. The project is now required to undergo a full environmental impact statement (EIS).
