Skip to content

Coal mine applications submitted

Company proposing Raven coal mining project gets applications in to provincial and federal governments

Compliance Coal Corporation said late last week it has commenced electronic submission and physical delivery of its joint provincial application for an environmental assessment certificate and its federal environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Raven mine on Vancouver Island.

The company said the filing process will be completed when it delivers printed and electronic copies of the over 12,000-page document, which were being collated and distributed last week.

"The submission of the Environmental Assessment Application and EIS for the proposed Raven Underground Coal Mining Project marks another substantial milestone for the company," said Compliance Coal President and CEO John Tapics. "The Environmental Assessment certificate is a key approval required for the Raven Underground Coal Mining Project and we are now progressing towards that goal on a legislated time frame. We are confident that the Raven Underground Coal Mining Project can make a significant contribution to the economy of Vancouver Island, through the creation of approximately 350 full-time jobs and a significant number of spin-off jobs in an area that has had limited new private industry initiatives in the past few years."

According to the company, the application/EIS includes detailed descriptions of the project, summaries of the studies conducted to assess baseline conditions, and an analysis of potential direct, indirect and cumulative effects, including activities proposed to mitigate those potential effects. The company says the application addresses key information on wildlife, freshwater and marine ecosystems, hydrology, hydrogeology, First Nations consultation and economic opportunities and is the result of several years of environmental field work and consultation.

After an initial screening review and if the application is accepted it will be posted on the B.C. government's Environmental Assessment Office website at www.eao.gov.bc.ca and the formal 180-day review period will start. The company says the federal government will coordinate the review of the EIS over a six month period running in parallel with the province.

See future editions of The NEWS for information about public meetings and more about the proposed project.

— NEWS Staff/News services