BURIN, NL – A proposed cannabis production facility that would utilize the former fish plant in the Town of Burin will have to register with the
province to undergo environmental assessment.
“The provincial government is currently requiring all cannabis production facilities to undergo environmental assessment processes,” Erin Shea, director of communications for the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment, stated in an email to the Southern Gazette.
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St. Lawrence native wants to start cannabis grow-op in Burin
Oceanic Releaf Inc. is planning a project to become one of the province’s first licensed producers of medicinal cannabis.
St. Lawrence native Taylor Giovannini, CEO and founder of Oceanic Releaf Inc., said the company has already started the process of registering with the province.
“I’m just getting everything compiled for (the department),” said Giovannini. “Where this is a new industry, of course they have to (do) the environmental assessment, but they don’t anticipate any issues, nor do we. “It’s a federally regulated license anyways, so the regulations that we already have to follow will supersede what the province may need.”
The proposed project would make use of the former Burin fish plant. The facility would be refurbished to ensure it meets federal regulations both from security aspects, as well as various systems required including HVAC and environmental control systems, grow rooms and vegetation rooms, said Giovannini.
Town not concerned
The Southern Gazette asked Burin town manager Leo Hartson if the town would include any conditions with the sale of the fish plant to Oceanic Releaf Inc., and what would happen to the building should it not be used for the proposed cannabis operation.
Hartson said he could not comment on the specifics of the agreement between the two parties.
“All I can say right now, based on the last environmental assessment that was done on the facility … we would not anticipate difficulties.”
Hartson said the facility was last assessed in 2007 or 2008 when Highliner Foods took over the fish plant.
“They had an environmental study done, and it was only food produced out there, so we’re not anticipating (any problems).”
Not alone
Oceanic Releaf Inc. is not the only proposed cannabis production facility to go through a provincial environmental assessment. Earlier this month government issued a release stating the Argentia Gold Corporation’s proposal for an 80,000-squre-foot hydroponic facility to produce medical cannabis in Placentia would require an assessment.
That project, to be located in the Argentia Industrial Park, registered with the Department of Municipal Affairs and Environment on Tuesday, Feb. 6.
Much like the proposed project by Oceanic Releaf Inc. for the town of Burin, the company was planning to refurbish an existing building.
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