VICTORIA, December 4, 2006 - The Joint Review Panel for the Kemess North Copper-Gold Mine Project today announces that it has reached a decision on the motion presented by the Gitxsan House of Nii Kyap at a public hearing in Victoria on November 29, 2006. The Panel has decided to request that the federal Minister of the Environment and the BC Minister of Environment amend the Panel’s Terms of Reference to extend the date for completion of the Panel review process and for delivery of the Panel’s report as follows:
that the process include a period of 90 days, commencing January 1, 2007, to permit time for the parties to resolve outstanding issues related to First Nations participation in the Panel process, and for First Nations to collect additional information and prepare submissions.
that the Terms of Reference be amended to include the opinio of an additional 45-day hearing period, to follow the 90-day period.
The Panel has made further recommendations which are outlined in the decision document. Before making its decision, the Panel considered the merits of the Gitxsan motion and the comments received from the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, Northgate Minerals Corporation, and the Tse Keh Nay, as well as other participants who provided comments on the motion.
The Panel also wishes to confirm that planned public hearings will proceed as scheduled. At the invitation of the Tse Keh Nay, the Panel will hold public hearings in the community of Kwadacha (Fort Ware), located just north of Williston Lake, BC, from December 5 to 7, 2006.
The Joint Review Panel was appointed by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia and is mandated according to the Terms of Reference contained in the Agreement established by both governments.
For more information or to obtain a copy of the Panel’s decision document, contact:
Marie-France Therrien, Panel Co-Manager
Kemess North Mine - Joint Review Panel
Tel.: 613-957-0324
marie-france.therrien@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
Ray Crook, Panel Co-Manager
Kemess North Mine - Joint Review Panel
Tel.: 250-387-2438
raymond.crook@gov.bc.ca
Northgate Minerals Corporation proposes to develop the Kemess North copper and gold deposit, 250 km northeast of Smithers. The proposed Project would be located 6 km north of its existing Kemess Mine, which is projected to close in late 2009. The Project includes development of a new open pit, modification of the existing mill, and related infrastructure. The Project would result in present day 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.
For further information on this project and the Joint Review Panel process, consult the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, reference number 04-07-3394.
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Media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Senior Communications Advisor
613-957-0434
