Cleaver Lake, approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof. A proposed gold and silver open-pit mine project in the area has received approval from the federal environment ministry. (Dan BrookCleaver Lake, approximately 60 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof. A proposed gold and silver open-pit mine project in the area has received approval from the federal environment ministry. (Dan Brooks)
The federal government has given approval for the $1.8-billion Blackwater Gold open pit gold and silver mine in central British Columbia.
An assessment by the government has determined the mine, about 110 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof, is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.
The New Gold Inc. mine would generate 60,000 tonnes of gold and silver ore a day over the 17-year life of the mine.
The mine is also expected to create up to 1,500 jobs in the construction phase and 495 positions during operations over the life of the project.
The assessment still set out 172 conditions for New Gold to meet through the life of the project, including mitigating the affect on the area’s Indigenous people, wetlands, fish, migratory birds and other wildlife.
Environment Minister Catherine McKenna says evaluating the project based on science and Indigenous knowledge, and putting environmental measures in place, will help create economic growth for the community.
The Canadian Press
