cleared some of the questions to the satisfaction of the EIA committee but it 
     
     did not resolve the question of the IBP designation. A further study contracted 
     
     by the P.E.I. Department of Environment to determine if there were other bogs 
     
     on the Island with similar features concluded that “due to the unique features 
     
     of the Miscouche Bog, no other bog could be found that would meet all of its 
     
     features." However, this report also recommended a land exchange proposal 
     
     involving three other bogs (Brae Harbour, St. Peter's, and Hood Islands) as 
     
     being an appropriate exchange for the loss that would be incurred through the 
     
     development of the Miscouche Bog. 0n the report's referral to the Island Nature 
     
     Trust and the Technical Advisory Committee of the Natural Areas Advisory 
     
     Committee, both responded that they would not support having the Miscouche Bog 
     
     developed. 
     
    

    
     The province's E.I.A. Technical Review Committee declared that it was 
     
     satisfied that with appropriate mitigation, terms and conditions, the 
     
     development proposal could continue without significant adverse impacts on the 
     
     environment. It recommended that the Minister of Environment refer the proposed 
     
     Miscouche Peat Bog Extraction project for public review through an independent 
     
     environmental assessment panel with the panel's mandate restricted to the IBP 
     
     issue. The Technical Review Committee recommended that the project be approved 
     
     with terms and conditions ensuring appropriate mitigation if the panel 
     
     concludes that the IBP designation should be removed. 
     
    

    
     On December 8th, this Environmental Assessment Panel met in Miscouche to 
     
     hear public input on the proposal. The Natural History Society sent a 
     
     representative to that meeting and the Society made the following points: 
     
    

    
     1. The Society opposed the development of a peat mine at the 
     
    

    
     Miscouche 809 because of its uniqueness both as an IBP site 
     
    

    
     and the presence of three very rare plants (Bog birch, Betula 
     
    

    
     umila, swamp pink, Calapogan tuberosus, and bake apple, Rubus 
     
    

    
     Ehamaemorus). 
     
    

    
     2. If the Panel in its wisdom decided to recommend the removal 
     
    

    
     of the IBP designation, the Society asked for three conditions to 
     
    

    
     be set and implemented prior to any development or drainage of 
     
    

    
     Miscouche Bog, namely: 
     
    

    
     a) that the lands be purchased by the government and be 
     
     subsequently established as natural areas with full 
     
     protection; 
     
    

    
     b) that a fund of sufficient size be established to pay 
     
     for successful transplanting and subsequent maintenance 
     
     of the three rare plants to the other three bogs; and 
     
    

    
     c) that the genetic uniqueness of these plants be 
     
     preserved in a national seed bank(s). 
     
    
   
   
    
     RAILS T0 TRAILS PHOTO CONTEST 
     
    
   
   
    
     Rails to Trails has announced a photo contest for subjects dealing with 
     
     any recreational use of a rail trail taken on or adjacent to a P.E.I. railbed 
     
     including wildlife, landscapes, human interest, activities, action photos, etc. 
     
     They have categories for children under 16 on January 31, 1991, adults, and 
     
     professional photographers. The formats include colour prints (Max 4"X6"), 
     
     black and white prints (max 4"X6"), Polaroid prints, and colour or black and 
     
     white slides. Entrants are restricted to 3 entries. These become the property 
     
     of Rails to Trails/P.E.I. and they will not necessarily be returned. For 
     
     further details contact Bunty Albert 894-7256. The contest deadline is February 
     
     26th, 1991. 
     
    
   
   
    
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