l-r  Gerry Lundquist speaks to  Graymont’s  Rob Beleutz  at the open house – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C.-   Only  a  few Prince George  area residents  took the opportunity to  find out more about the proposed Graymont limestone quarry and kiln project last evening.

The Environmental Assessment Office held an open house at the Ramada, outlining  the basics of the proposed project  to be located  in the Giscome area,  about 27 kms east of Prince George, and  how people can  submit a  comment on that  project.

The application for environmental  review  was accepted on November 23rd, and the public comment period  opened on December 1st.  Graymont Project Manager, David Chamberlain says  the Environmental Assessment Office  is expected to make a  decision on the project  by   June of 2016.   There would still be other permits  to  be granted, and Chamberlain says  if everything goes  well,  the project  “potentially” could start moving forward in the late fall of 2016.  Full construction could take  up to 2 years for the lime plant.

The project calls for an open pit limestone quarry  near Giscome,  a conveyor system would carry the rock to the  kiln located on the southeast  side of  Eaglet Lake.   One of the key factors in this project is that there is no tailings pond.

Chamberlain says  the project has been adjusted  to  address concerns  about light pollution,  visual aesthetics,  wildlife migration and First Nations  cultural heritage.  An archaeological site  has been discovered, and some 300 artifacts already  uncovered.  “We’ve listened  to those (concerns) very seriously because   we’re in for the very long term, we’re not a short term mining project, we’re going to be here for decades and decades.”   He says  the vast majority of the  comments have been very positive.

While the application pegs the lifespan of the  mine at 40 years, Chamberlain says  the mine would likely last much  longer than  that.”We have one  plant in Quebec that has been operating for more than a 100 years.”

At peak construction  Chamberlain   says there would be  between 40  and 50  jobs created.   Once the lime kiln plant is complete though,  the  employment numbers would  drop “We are designing this plant with a lot of technology a lot of efficiencies built into it” says  Chamberlain “At the plant itself, we’re looking at  10 to 15  full time  skilled jobs there, and at the quarry, it will depend on the season,  that will probably be 8-10 jobs there, and that’s  based on one kiln operating.”

The employment numbers  could increase as more kilns come on line.

Anyone interested in making an official comment on the project can do so by sending their comments:

• By online form: http://www.eao.gov.bc.ca
• By mail: Gerry Hamblin Project Assessment Manager Environmental Assessment Office PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Gov Victoria, B.C. V8W 9V1
• By fax: 250-387-2208

All comments must be submitted no later than January 15th of 2016.