All Alton gas project appeals dismissed by Nova Scotia environment minister

The company behind the Alton gasproject has once again been given the green lightfrom the province to build a brine storage pond as part of amassive natural gas storage facility near Stewiacke, N.S.

On Monday, Environment Minister Margaret Millerdismissedthe last two of the six appeals ofAltaGas Ltd.'sindustrial approval.

• Alton natural gas project gets boost when minister dismisses four appeals

Those appeals of theJanuaryapproval to build thestorage pond in Colchester County forced theCalgary company to temporarilyhalt its construction.

Miller dismissedconcerns about the operationruining the nearby ShubenacadieRiver.

Shubenacadie River 'very near and dear'

"The Shubenacadie River is very near and dear to me," she told reporters at Province House, adding a personal note to her ministerial review of the appeals.

"Our farm was on that river. We farmed there for 25 years. I've always been a part of that river. I was raised there as well. You know, my father used to go down the river and get a fish from the fishermen for supper.

"This is very much a part of who I am too. So in my own heart I had to know that the science was real and the science was showing that there was no real risk to the river or to the species of fish in the river."

'It was a farce'

But Art Redden disagrees. His group, the Striped Bass Association, filed one of the rejected appeals.

"They didn't consider what we, the points that we appealed," said Redden. "And they had absolutely no intention of doing anything with the appeals.

"It was just another little nuisance to them. It was a farce. That's the best I could say about it. It was a farce."

A week ago, Miller rejected the concerns outlined in four appeals that centred on the potential danger of dumping brine into the Shubenacadie River.