Environment Minister Kerry Morash issued a news release Thursday, saying that his department did listen to public input on the mine, and that’s reflected in the more than two dozen conditions placed on Pioneer Coal.

The Westville, Pictou County, company, headed by Antigonish businessman John Chisholm, wants to extract 1.6 million tonnes of coal from the site over seven years.

Before Pioneer starts work, it must establish a community liaison committee. Such committees generally have six to eight members, said Peter Geddes, an environmental assessment officer with the Environment Department.

The committee’s role would include helping develop an arbitration process for disputes over environmental concerns that would arise during the operation of the mine and reclamation of the site. Pioneer would also consult the committee on monitoring, mitigation and contingency plans.

"Reclamation" includes filling in the mine site so it’s returned to its original contours, Mr. Geddes said.

Other conditions Pioneer must meet include getting someone to review plans for groundwater management, coming up with a detailed plan for cleaning up the land and having a dust control plan.

This environmental assessment approval process is more rigorous because of the complexity of the site and the direction from a study the department commissioned earlier this year on the cumulative effects of coal mining, according to the department.

"We have to protect the environment, and this location presents challenging issues, such as old tunnels from the Prince mine and from illegal mining, and the protection of groundwater," Mr. Morash said.

Mr. Chisholm wasn’t available for comment.

Wilf Isaac, who lives on Boulardarie Island and heads a citizens group opposed to strip mining, said he was disappointed Pioneer received even conditional approval.

"What took nature 1,000 years or 2,000 years to make, there’s no need to destroy it for the amount of coal they’re going to get out of this property," said Mr. Isaac, co-chairman of Citizens Against Strip Mining.

He and other residents have protested this year at Province House, in the streets of Florence and Point Aconi and in Cape Breton meeting halls. They have the support of the provincial Liberals and NDP and Cape Breton regional council.

Mr. Isaac doubts Pioneer will be able to find enough people to serve on a liaison committee.

"There’s nobody in this community that wants to serve on any committee that would lead to the destruction of this island through strip mining," he said.

Mr. Isaac said he’s worried about the effect a strip mine could have on the water supply as most people’s homes have wells. He’s also concerned about tourism, fishing, farming and wildlife.

The Environment Department’s conditions state that Pioneer must contact the Natural Resources Department if workers run into bats or long-eared owls and must take steps to limit the disturbing of wildlife.

If the mine does open, Pioneer could truck coal only between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Monday to Saturday.

The company has two years to meet the conditions and start work at the site. If work hasn’t started by then, the company may apply for an extension.

Besides the environmental assessment approval, Pioneer also needs an industrial permit.

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