Terrane Seeks Change to Environmental Assessment Certificate
Tuesday, September 18, 2012 @ 4:00 AM
Mackenzie, B.C. – Terrane Metals has applied for an amendment to its environmental assessment certificate for the Mount Milligan mine.
The amendment asks for permission build an on site camp for workers during mine operations, and to relocate a rail load out facility from the already approved site in Fort St. James to Mackenzie.
The company says the relocation of the loadout facility to Mackenzie is now possible because of the upgrades to the Mackenzie-Fort St. James Connector road.
The facility proposed for Mackenzie will be very similar to the facility described in the original Application; however, the community of Mackenzie offers some advantages, including the potential opportunity to utilize a dormant load-out facility in an industrial zoned area.
A public comment period is now in effect to gather input on the proposed amendments. The Environmental Assessment Office would like to hear the potential environmental, economic, social , heritage and health effects the changes would have.
Two open houses have been set, there will be one held on Wednesday the 26th) from 4-8 p.m. at the Allan Sheppard Arena in Mackenzie, and one on Thursday the 27th from 4-8 p.m. at the College of New Caledonia in Fort St. James.
The public comment period is open until October 11th and can be submitted online or by mail to:
Shelly Murphy
Executive Project Director Environmental Assessment Office
P.O. Box 9426, Stn Prov Govt.
Victoria B.C. V8W 9V1
Or by fax to 250-387-2208
Comments
I don’t think it will make a heck of a difference. The company will exhaust all the local potential employees first, than they will look outside the area. Mackenzie has been on board all the way, Ft St James shot themselves in the foot with the First Nations whinning. So TCM dont care about FSJ.
So the camp is to get people living in PG, Quesnel and further out to come, stay and work. This will definitely keep a lot of people of the roads, and in the winter time, it probably saves lives.
However if one of the approval points was not to have a onsite camp, than this needs to be negotiated. Maybe, 33% of the employees has to live in Mackenzie. Not just have a mailing address.
The camp only makes sense when it comes to remote operations. When you have operations like a mine you have continues unforseen problems such as, breakdowns, operational issues and waiting on delivery of parts and supplies. When you have scheduled buses and start stop times it makes it very difficult for people to stay overtime and to fix crucial pieces of equiptment. The buses will have to run 6 months of the year in winter like conditions. As well, a camp situation is a lot more appealing for hiring in a shrinking trades market then relocating to Mackenzie or Fort St James. Just ask Mackenzie sawmill whose is contracting out over half or their tradesmen right now.
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