New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine project to be assessed by a federal review panel
By Contributor
A second chance has been granted to a controversial Interior mine project.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) announced today that the New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine project near Williams Lake will undergo an environmental assessment by a federal review panel.
The massive New Prosperity Mine project, about 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, has been granted a second federal environmental review after failing its first review in 2010.
The Minister of Environment has referred the New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine to a review panel pursuant to his authority under subparagraph 29(1)(a)(ii) of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
The Minister of the Environment instructed the Agency to design a process that will thoroughly assess whether the proposal addresses the environmental effects identified in the environmental assessment of the original Prosperity project.
He also directed the Agency to ensure that information obtained during the previous environmental assessment is used to the extent possible in order to ensure a timely decision.
The rejection of the $1-billion project was largely due to its plan to drain and then dump tailings into a Fish Lake, destroying it and dozens of connecting streams.
The Minister indicated that the time for the Agency to complete these activities and for the panel to conduct its review, including holding public hearings and preparing its report, is to be no more than 12 months, in total. This timeline is consistent with the prescribed timeline for a comprehensive study.
The Agency will prepare the environmental impact statement guidelines that will identify the potential environmental effects to be addressed and the information that needs to be included in the proponent’s environmental impact statement to assess the project as currently proposed.
Taseko Mines Ltd. proposes the construction and operation of a large open pit gold-copper mine development.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.
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