Giscome Limestone Quarry Back on Radar
Tuesday, June 25, 2013 @ 3:59 AM
Map shows proposed site for lime kilns and quarry – map was part of original proposal submitted to Provincial Environmental Assessment office
Prince George, B.C. –The proposed limestone quarry and processing plant in the Giscome area is back on the radar.
Graymont, the company which had first proposed the project in 2007, has returned. Graymont is now conducting an environmental impact assessment and has started consultation on the proposal.
The proposed lime processing plant site is about 1 km northeast of Giscome. The proposed quarry is on Crown land about 4km south east of Giscome.
The initial project proposal called for the extraction of 600,000 tonnes of limestone each year, to produce 200,000 tonnes of lime annually using one kiln.
The initial proposal, presented in 2007, indicated there would be 30 jobs created, and the project would cost $90 million dollars.
Phase two, which would see a second kiln added (doubling lime production) would cost a further $40 million dollars.
Graymont put the project on hold because there were concerns over provincial regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. The original proposal (2007) indicated the kiln’s may have been fired up with thermal coal, however that proposal also indicated Graymont was open to examining other technologies “Graymont is currently evaluating a variety of solid fuel sources, such as pulverized petroleum coke and thermal coal. Graymont is also currently investigating the burning of biosolids (wood waste) to verify whether it would be a feasible alternate fuel source”.
It is not known what form of fuel is being proposed for the revisited project, or if there are revised cost estimates as our calls to Graymont to upgrade details on the proposal had not been returned by publication time.
The latest information released by Graymont says the project will require approvals under the BC Environmental Assessment Act and from the Regional District of Fraser Fort George . “Graymont is currently preparing to host public information sessions in the region. Assuming the necessary approvals are in place in 2014, the Company anticipates starting construction in the spring of 2015 and lime production would begin in 2016.”
Comments
Hmm… 30 jobs or not being able to fish in Eaglette in the future with tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions being pumped into our atmosphere.
Always that trade-off; jobs verse our environment. Whatever, lets make Prince George and area look like a moonscape for jobs. This project is more than feasible now that Harper made those changes to the Navigable Waters Act, that is what has changed since their original 2007 proposal.
Funny how we need water for every type of natural resource extraction or industry; pulp-mills, LNG fracking, gold mining/production, lime mining/production beyond quick-lime (very caustic) which is why the proposed factory is to be located next to Eaglette Lake?
I am neither for, or against, this proposed limestone mining/lime production plant, just pointing out the trade-offs!
Any drive to Alberta will show you what the effects are. There are several plants operating just off highway 16 and 1. IMO, I don’t think it will be a problem.
People #1, I grew up there. Fish in Eaglet. Ha that’s a joke, It once had the largest sawmill in the region, the bottom of the lake probably has 10 ft of bark. No trout in that lake, all we ever caught was suckers.
Navigatable waters, really, hmm the lake has a small creek running out of it, at best it is about 2 ft deep near the willow river. Sure would like to see someone using this as a travel route, have to go thru a 4 ft culvert.
Yes lime is caustic, but so is sugar.
Be nice to see some more jobs and money in the area. This will be good for the community of Willow River which has been in the process of waiting for full sewer and water project to go through.
This could be great for the area…it’s too bad the SD is planning on putting expensive new class rooms so close to the proposed kiln site.
This is an ideal time to find an alternate location for the school. Ideally not so close to the rock quarry, train tracks and now a proposed lime kiln.
Eagle lake was killed off many years ago by the sawmill that was located there, and the storage of logs in the Lake. It has in fact made somewhat of a comeback since that time and does have some fish. Specifically Burbot (Ling) which are trying to make a comeback.
Putting a coal/biomass/woodwaste/ burning, limestone quarry at this location, along with the dust that it generates, and I will guarantee you that this Lake is finished.
Im sure that the Regional District, the Farmers Institutes, and the First Nations will have something to say about this proposal.
As far as the 30 jobs go, who needs them. From what I understand we cant get enough people to look after all the jobs we have as it now stands.
Boom time in Giscome and Willow River???
Palopu: “Im sure that the Regional District, the Farmers Institutes, and the First Nations will have something to say about this proposal.”
…and this differs how from every proposal that is brought up?
No matter what you suggest, some small but vocal special interest group will have something to say about it.
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