Prince George, B.C. – The New Gold, Blackwater Gold project has entered the first round of Public Comments stage under the Environmental Assessment Act.

 

This round will help the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA)make a decision on whether or not a federal environmental assessment is required for the project.

 

New Gold Inc. is proposing the construction, operation, and decommissioning of an open pit gold and silver mine located approximately 160 kilometers south of Vanderhoof, B.C. .  The proposal projects a daily  production of  60,000 tonnes per day of gold and silver ore, over a mine life of 17 years.

 

In addition to the development of an open pit mine, the project would also need to develop a 133-km transmission line connecting the mine site with an existing substation south of the community of Endako.

 

Access to the mine site is via existing Forest Service roads from Vanderhoof and an 18 km exploration road that will be moved east and north in order to move it out of the Ungulate Winter Range.

 

The CEAA is looking for comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment.

Written comments must be submitted by November 25^th.

Comments can be sent to:

Blackwater Gold Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410 – 701 West Georgia Street
Vancouver BC V7Y 1C6
Telephone: 604-666-2431
Fax: 604-666-6990
Blackwater@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

 

A summary of the project description is available here.

If it is determined that a federal environmental assessment is required, the public will have three more opportunities to comment on this project.