The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is calling on members of the public to give their opinion on whether or not they should carry out an assessment on the proposed Bingay Main Coal Project near Elkford.
Centremount Coal Limited is proposing the construction, operation, and decommissioning of an open pit and underground coal mine located approximately 21 kilometres north of Elkford, in southeastern British Columbia. As proposed, the project would produce two million tonnes of metallurgical coal per year over a mine life of 20 years.
As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government’s Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency must determine whether a federal environmental assessment is required. To assist it in making its decision, the Agency is seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment.
Written comments must be submitted by December 23 to:
Bingay Main Coal Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410 – 701 West Georgia Street
Vancouver BC V7Y 1C6
Telephone: 604-666-2431
Fax: 604-666-6990
Bingay@ceaa-acee.gc.ca
To view a summary of the project description or for more information on the project and on the environmental assessment process, visit the Agency’s website (registry reference number 80024).
The Agency will post a decision stating whether a federal environmental assessment is required on its website.
Céline Legault , Communications Advisor at CEAA, said that if it is determined that a federal environmental assessment is required, the public will have three more opportunities to comment on this project, consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012.
“Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach,” she said. “If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, this project will continue to be subject to Canada’s strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and increased fines.”
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.
