Agreement between McInnis Cement and Centre québécois du Droit de l'Environnement

PORT-DANIEL–GASCONS, QC, Feb. 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - McInnis Cement is pleased with the agreement that was reached with Centre québécois du Droit de l'Environnement (CQDE) in regards to the proceedings filed last August against the Environment Minister , aimed at invalidating McInnis Cement's authorization certificate for the cement plant project in Port-Daniel–Gascons. McInnis Cement is an impleaded party in this legal action from which CQDE withdraws. Environnement Vert-Plus has also mentioned its withdrawal from the proceeding.

McInnis Cement and the CQDE have agreed to create an environmental subcommittee and to pursue their discussions in a mediation process that will address three issues:

1. The monitoring of greenhouse gases (GHG) from the cement plant and McInnis Cement's efforts to reduce GHG;
2. The monitoring of McInnis Cement's performance in complying with NESHAP standards with regards to the emission of contaminants;
3. The monitoring of McInnis Cement's compliance with the protocol agreed to with Fisheries and Oceans Canada concerning the protection of marine mammals.

In addition to the CQDE, the Conseil régional de l'Environnement de la Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine and Nature-Québec have been invited to the mediation process, as well as the Ministère du Développement durable, de l'Environnement et de la Lutte aux Changements climatiques. The work of this enlarged forum will ensure a long-term dialogue around the future cement plant and is part of McInnis Cement's sustainable development values.

"From day one of Lafarge's filing of the request, McInnis Cement stated that it was a maneuver to slow the arrival of a competitor in the market. The withdrawal of the environmental groups is leaving Lafarge alone in the legal proceedings and highlight its non-competitive purpose", explained Christian Gagnon, CEO of McInnis Cement. "McInnis Cement is aware of its carbon footprint and is committed to gradually reduce its GHG. In this context, we choose the path of dialogue, opting for a mediation with environmental groups about this global issue", said Mr. Gagnon.

ABOUT McINNIS CEMENT

McInnis Cement is currently building a cement plant representing one of the largest industrial project currently in construction in the Eastern part of North America.  The plant will have an initial production capacity of 2.2 million metric tons of cement per year.  It is located in the Port-Daniel–Gascons city in the Gaspésie region.  The site was chosen because of the quality of its limestone deposit and the possibility to build a deep water maritime terminal. Thanks to its state-of-the-art technology, the Port-Daniel–Gascons cement plant will meet the most stringent environmental standards and will therefore have one of the lowest environmental footprint of the cement industry. Project updates are available on www.mcinniscement.com and on Twitter @Ciment_McInnis.

SOURCE McInnis Cement