The agency said Monday it has prepared a draft environmental impact statement of the possible environmental impacts it will seek to address in the review as well as the information it wants to include in the Donkin study.

It is looking for comments both on the project as well as how the evaluation will be conducted.

Public input on the draft will then be reviewed and considered before it finalizes and releases the assessment report, the CEAA said, and is the first of several comment periods it will hold during the assessment phase of the Donkin project.

Deadline for all comments is December 29.

It is also making $30,000 in funding available under the Participant Funding Program to aid those intending to participate in the environmental assessment; those applications must also be received by December 29.

The proposed Donkin underground coal project at the northeastern tip of Cape-Breton in Nova Scotia has an estimate lifespan of more than three decades and projects annual production of approximately 3.6 million tonnes of coking coal.

The project also calls for a coal handling and processing plant to prepare output for a new barge loading facility; construction of this is included in the plan.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the process of federal environmental assessments for such projects so that environmental effects and their scope can be determined.

Erdene Resource Development holds a 25% interest in the Donkin Coal Alliance. Project manager and joint venture partner Xstrata Coal Canada owns the remaining 75% interest.