Kitsault Mine Project: Release of Environmental Assessment Decision Statement

Press Release – June 27, 2014  —  Ottawa — Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Canada’s Environment Minister, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, announced today that the proposed Kitsault Mine Project, located in British Columbia, is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects when the mitigation measures described in the Comprehensive Study Report and its Addendum are taken into account. The Minister has referred the project back to the responsible authorities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Natural Resources Canada, for appropriate action.

The Minister has also issued a Project Recommendation under the Nisga’a Final Agreement (NFA) that includes provisions to mitigate adverse environmental effects on Nisga’a.

In reaching her decision and making her recommendation, the Minister considered the Comprehensive Study Report, the Addendum, and the comments received from the public, Nisga’a Nation and other Aboriginal groups on each report.

This project was assessed using a science-based approach in accordance with the former Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The project was also subject to requirements under the NFA, a modern treaty signed by the governments of Canada, British Columbia, and the Nisga’a Nation.

Quick Facts

• Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd. will construct and operate an open-pit molybdenum mine located approximately 140 kilometres north of Prince Rupert and south of the head of Alice Arm, in British Columbia. The mine will operate for approximately 16 years at a production rate of up to 50,000 tonnes of ore per day.
• Copies of the Minister of the Environment’s environmental assessment decision statement, NFA Project Recommendation, and more information on this project are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry website, reference number 57958.
• 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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Contacts

Ted Laking
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of the Environment
819-997-1441

Sofie McCoy-Astell
Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
613-960-1519
Sofie.McCoy-Astell@ceaa-acee.gc.ca