Latest news with #TimHalman
CBC
13-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.S. shakes up requirements for metal mines in bid to speed up approvals
Nova Scotia Environment Minister Tim Halman says he's acting on years of requests from the mining industry to change the regulatory requirements for some major projects. The changes are the latest move in the Houston government's plan to ramp up resource development. "We are embracing the fact that strong environmental protection, economic opportunity and regulatory clarity are not competing priorities. They must work together, and in Nova Scotia they will," Halman said at a news conference Friday. Halman's department is removing 15 requirements from the application for industrial approvals, which a project needs before it can start operating. The changes apply only to metal mining projects, while all other major projects will still have to meet the pre-existing requirements for industrial applications. 15 requirements pushed down the road The 15 requirements that were dropped include noise and air emissions monitoring plans, the submission of reclamation securities and signed authorization from landowners, among other items. The requirements are not being completely discarded but are being pushed further down the road. The requirements will be conditions of industrial approval, with deadlines coming at various stages of construction and operation of the mine. Officials from Halman's department called it a "phased" approach and said it will help speed things up. "When a company receives industrial approval, it may be many months or years before they begin construction," said Janet MacKinnon, executive director of sustainability and applied science. "So we wouldn't necessarily need that information until they were ready at that phase of their project to start building or start constructing or start operating." 'Quicker is better' Metal mining projects have to undergo a Class I environmental assessment, which takes 50 days, before moving on to industrial approval, which takes 60 days. Those timelines are set in legislation. The period in between receipt of environmental approval and the submission of an application for industrial approval is highly variable, said Paul Keats, and that's the area the province is aiming to address. Keats, director of the regional integration, compliance and operations unit at the Environment Department, said the months or years that can go by in between the two stages is dictated in part by the applicant's ability to meet all the requirements for industrial applications. He said a group of 10 staff has been assigned to work exclusively on industrial approvals for metal mining projects. "We are going to be here to help clients understand the requirements and help them get through a successful approval quicker," he said. He couldn't say exactly how much time he expects the new process to shave off. "Quicker is better," said Keats. MacKinnon said Mi'kmaw leaders were "made aware" of the changes to the industrial approval process and will continue to be consulted on a project-by-project basis.
National Observer
08-05-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Nova Scotia to speed up environmental reviews for clean energy projects
The Nova Scotia government is accelerating the environmental review process for a number of clean energy projects to meet its climate goals and get off coal by 2030. Under changes announced Thursday, large biomass, biogas and clean fuel projects have been changed to Class 1 from Class 2, meaning they can be approved within 50 days. The more rigorous Class 2 assessment, which can take more than two years, is now reserved for projects such as pulp mills, cement plants, incinerators and large energy plants. The government is also classifying small modular reactor projects, previously not covered by regulations, as Class 1, a designation that had previously been reserved for renewable projects involving wind, tidal and solar energy, as well as for biofuels, mines, quarries and alterations to large wetlands. Environment Minister Tim Halman says the province has committed to reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 'Without the ability to build faster we will not be able to meet our climate change and energy security commitments,' said Halman. 'These changes are intended to speed up our transition to clean energy, fight global climate change and support sustainable development.' Under the changes, small wood biomass projects will now be exempt from the environmental review process and will be managed through the Environment Department's industrial approval process. Meanwhile, the province is extending the Class 1 consultation period for members of the public and Mi'kmaq communities by 10 days, for a total of 40 days, while the entire assessment period remains at 50 days. As well, companies will also have to provide a 'plain language' summary of a proposed project's benefits and impacts, and the government will include new 'plain language' guidance for companies on the environmental review process, which will include climate change as a factor to be considered before a minister approves a project. 'It's a clarified Class 1 system,' said Halman. 'A clear process that will protect the environment and build up the economy.' The changes come after Premier Tim Houston signalled his intent earlier this year to increase the potential of the province's natural resources. In March, his government passed legislation to lift a moratorium on fracking and a ban on uranium mining and exploration. Officials on Thursday did not say whether potential shale gas fracking projects would be assessed under a Class 1 or Class 2 process. In a followup email, the Environment department said companies interested in such drilling would need to get permission from the Department of Energy and then approval through the province's industrial review process. The new classifications were welcomed by Todd Burgess, executive director of the industry group Forest Nova Scotia. 'Simplifying regulation is going to be very good for the forest sector, it will help us grow and create more jobs long term in rural Nova Scotia,' Burgess told reporters. However, Karen McKendry, senior wilderness outreach co-ordinator for the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre, said that while more cleaner energy projects are needed, the changes to the review process 'aren't meaningfully helpful in getting us there.' 'One of the major problems with the process already that they didn't change today was around transparency,' said McKendry, who noted that the government held consultations in 2023 on changes needed to environment reviews. She said many participants in the consultations called on the government to take public comment seriously and for the minister to provide a rationale for environmental approval decisions. McKendry said that simply adding 10 days to the Class 1 consultation period will do little. 'I think for communities that will be 10 more days of shouting into the void,' she said.
Global News
08-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Nova Scotia to speed up environmental reviews for clean energy projects
Nova Scotia is moving to speed up its environmental review process for a number of clean energy projects. Under the new changes larger biomass, biogas and clean fuel projects have been reclassified to the quicker Class 1 assessment process. Small modular reactor projects, previously not covered by regulations, have also been added as Class 1 projects. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Meanwhile, the consultation period for the public and the Mi'kmaq under Class 1 has been extended by 10 days for a total of 40 days, while the entire assessment period remains at 50 days. The more rigorous Class 2 assessment, which can take more than two years, is now reserved for projects such as pulp mills, cement plants, incinerators and large energy plants. Environment Minister Tim Halman says without the ability to build clean energy projects faster, the province will not be able to meet environmental commitments such as reaching net zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Story continues below advertisement Under the changes, smaller wood biomass projects will be exempt from the environmental review process and will be managed through the Environment Department's industrial approval process.
CBC
08-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Nova Scotia to speed up environmental reviews for clean energy projects
Nova Scotia is moving to speed up its environmental review process for a number of clean energy projects. Under the changes, larger biomass, biogas and clean fuel projects have been reclassified to the quicker Class 1 assessment process. Small modular reactor projects, previously not covered by regulations, have also been added as Class 1 projects. Meanwhile, the consultation period for the public and the Mi'kmaq under Class 1 has been extended by 10 days for a total of 40 days, while the entire assessment period remains at 50 days. The more rigorous Class 2 assessment, which can take more than two years, is now reserved for projects such as pulp mills, cement plants, incinerators and large energy plants. Environment Minister Tim Halman says without the ability to build clean energy projects faster, the province will not be able to meet environmental commitments such as reaching net zero for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Under the changes, smaller wood biomass projects will be exempt from the environmental review process and will be managed through the Environment Department's industrial approval process.
CBC
15-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
N.S. moves forward with plan to force municipalities to protect coastlines
The Nova Scotia government is offering municipalities a blueprint on how they can protect the province's 13,000 kilometres of coastline. Environment Minister Tim Halman on Tuesday announced a new website link with examples of bylaws and other regulations municipalities can use to prevent coastal erosion. It's a controversial measure — the Progressive Conservatives have refused to put into force a 2019 law adopted by the previous Liberal government that would have required the provincial government to manage coastal protection. Instead, the Tories want the province's municipalities to draft their own bylaws that define where coastal regulations would apply, set minimum building elevations, and create buffer zones to protect infrastructure from erosion. Halman also announced more than $1.3 million for the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities to hire a climate change policy analyst and help its 49 members create their own bylaws. The Progressive Conservatives promised to offer examples of bylaws when they announced their coastal protection strategy in February 2024 and confirmed they would not proclaim the Liberals' 2019 Coastal Protection Act.
