Terrace, B.C.- The blockade that had  closed access to Imperial Metals Red Chris mine has been removed, now that Imperial Metals and the Tahltan Central Council have reached an agreement.

The agreement has the Tahltan select an engineering firm that will review  the plans for design, construction and operations of the Red Chris  tailings pond. The Tahltan  are concerned  there could be a  tailings pond breach  like the one at Imperial Metals’ Mount Polley mine.

The  review  is targeted for completion by  September 24th, and  Imperial has agreed to address all material issues, if any, identified by the review in a timely manner and to the reasonable satisfaction of the TCC.

The agreement has been approved by the Tahltan Central Council following a series of community meetings held in Iskut with the TCC, the Klabona Keepers Elders Society and Imperial Metals.

Imperial is targeting to start commissioning operations at Red Chris late next month.