Environmental Assessment Decision and Project Recommendation

KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell) Project

OTTAWA, Dec. 19, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council, announced today that the proposed KSM (Kerr-Sulphurets-Mitchell) Project (the Project), located in British Columbia, is not likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects when the mitigation measures described in the Comprehensive Study Report are taken into account. The Project has been referred back to the responsible authorities, Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Natural Resources Canada, for appropriate action.

The Minister has also issued a Project Recommendation under the Nisga'a Final Agreement (NFA) that includes provisions to mitigate adverse environmental effects on the Nisga'a Nation.

In reaching her decision and making her recommendation, the Minister considered the Comprehensive Study Report and the comments received from the public, the Nisga'a Nation and other Aboriginal groups on the report.

This project was assessed using a science-based approach in accordance with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. The Project was also subject to requirements under the NFA, a modern treaty signed by the governments of Canada, British Columbia and the Nisga'a Nation.

Quick Facts

• Seabridge Gold Incorporated proposes to develop a combined open-pit and underground gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum mine in the Kerr, Sulphurets, and Mitchell Creek watersheds located approximately 65 kilometres northwest of Stewart, British Columbia. The proposed KSM Project is expected to process 130,000 tonnes per day of ore over an anticipated mine life of 52 years.
  
• Copies of the Minister of the Environment's Environmental Assessment Decision Statement, NFA Project Recommendation and more information on this project are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry website, reference number 49262.
  
• The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

Associated Links

• KSM Project (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
  
• Minister of the Environment's Environmental Assessment Decision Statement (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
  
• Minister of the Environment's NFA Project Recommendation (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
  
• Nisga'a Final Agreement (Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada)

SOURCE: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Ted Laking, Director of Communications,Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Karen Fish, Communications Advisor, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 613-957-0278, [email protected]