Written by GORDON HOEKSTRA
Citizen staff
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Friday, 18 July 2008 |
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FIRST NATIONSPRINCE GEORGE-OMINECA MLA JOHN RUSTADTERRANE METAL
Terrane Metals has taken the first step in submitting its environmental assessment application to the province on its proposed $917-million gold and copper mine northwest of Prince George.
The Vancouver-based company has submitted its application to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office for a 30-day preview to ensure the application is complete and contains the required information.
"We received the application in the office (Wednesday) afternoon," confirmed Graeme McLaren, a project assessment director with the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office.
Once the application is deemed ready, Terrane will enter a formal 180-day review period, which includes opportunities for public input, said McLaren. The application will be made public following the 30-day preview, including a posting to the assessment office's website.
Terrane Metals senior official Glen Wonders said the company had worked hard to get the application complete, and will now wait for the 30-day screening period. "From there, we will continue on," said Wonders, vice-president of corporate affairs and sustainability, who is headquartered in Prince George.
Wonders noted the application had comprised 5,000 to 6,000 pages.
The news has already percolated through the community of Fort St. James, said Prince George-Omineca MLA John Rustad, who said that is how he heard about it.
"This is great. It's a big step towards getting a mine," said Rustad.
The proposed project, 155 kilometres northwest of Prince George, is located almost equal distance between the communities of Fort St. James and Mackenzie. Both communities have been hit hard by the continuing forestry downturn which has been led by an collapse in the U.S. housing sector. The mine is viewed as providing economic diversification to the two communities.
A feasibility study released by Terrane Metal's recently stated the mine could be profitable based on gold and copper prices lower than today's. The study said the mine would run for 15.3 years and create 400 jobs.
The mine had been permitted in the early '90s under Placer Dome, but that permit elapsed.
There are a several First Nations with claims to traditional territory in the area of the mine.
The Nak'azdli First Nation, located to the west of the mine site, has not said it is against the mine, but has said it wants greater involvement in the environmental assessment of the project.
The McLeod Lake Indian Band, located to the east of the mine site, has cited support for the project.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency announced six weeks ago that proposed mine is subject to a comprehensive study. McLaren said the province and federal government are working together closely on the review.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 07 September 2008 )
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