VICTORIA, July 15, 2005 – The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office invite First Nations and the public to comment on the draft Guidelines for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Kemess North Copper-Gold Mine Project.
One of the joint review panel's first responsibilities will be to finalize the draft EIA Guidelines for the project review. The Guidelines will identify the issues the proponent, Northgate Minerals Corporation, will be required to address in its environmental impact assessment of the proposed project.
After taking public comments into consideration, the joint review panel will finalize and issue the Guidelines to the proponent. Written comments on the draft Guidelines received by the joint review panel by August 15, 2005 will be considered. Please forward your comments, in the official language of your choice, by mail or e-mail to the following:
Georgina Naismith, Panel Co-Manager
Kemess North Copper-Gold Mine - Joint Review Panel
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor
Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: (613) 957-0182
Fax. (613) 957-0941
Comments@Kemess-JointReview.ca
Ray Crook, Panel Co-Manager
Kemess North Copper-Gold Mine - Joint Review Panel
201-1290 Broad Street
Victoria, B.C. V8W 2A5
The draft EIA Guidelines are posted on the Web sites of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (www.eao.gov.bc.ca). Copies of the draft EIA Guidelines can be obtained from the following centres:
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
757 West Hastings Street, Suite 320
Sinclair Centre
Vancouver, B.C. V6C 1A1
British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office
836 Yates Street, 2nd Floor
PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria, B.C. V8W 9V1
Smithers Public Library
3817 Alfred Avenue
Smithers, B.C. V0J 2N0
Prince George Public Library
6547 Hart Highway
Prince George, B.C. V2K 3A4
Northgate Minerals Corporation proposes to develop the Kemess North copper and gold deposit, 250 km northeast of Smithers, B.C. The project is located 6 km north of its existing Kemess Mine. The project includes development of a new open pit, modification of the existing mill, and related infrastructure. The project would result in the milling capacity at the operating Kemess mine being increased from the current 55,000 tonnes per day to up to 120,000 tonnes per day.
To register as an interested party and to be kept informed of the panel's activities, please provide a full mailing address, an e-mail address and/or a fax number, as applicable, to one of the panel co-managers.
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For more information, media may contact:
Robert Deslauriers
Senior Communications Advisor
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: (613) 957-0396
robert.deslauriers@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
Max Cleeveley
Communications Director
Public Affairs Bureau
B.C. Ministry of Environment
Tel.: (250) 387-9973
Max.Cleeveley@gov.bc.ca
