Public Comments Invited - Aley Mine Project

OTTAWA, Oct. 10, 2014 /CNW/ - As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) must decide whether a federal environmental assessment is required for the proposed Aley Mine Project, located in British Columbia (B.C). To assist it in making its decision, the Agency is seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment.

The Government of B.C. has requested the substitution of the B.C. environmental assessment process for the CEAA 2012 process if it is determined that an environmental assessment is required. The Agency is also seeking comments on this request.

In accordance with CEAA 2012, the Minister of the Environment, the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, must approve the substitution request if she is satisfied that the conditions for substitution under CEAA 2012 are met and if she is of the opinion that the B.C. process would be an appropriate substitute for an environmental assessment of this project by the Agency.

All comments received will be considered public. Written comments must be submitted by October 30, 2014 to:

Aley Mine Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410-701 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1C6
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]

Quick Facts

• The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is seeking public comments on the summary of the project description and the substitution request for the proposed Aley Mine Project, located 130 kilometres north of Mackenzie in north-central British Columbia. The summary of the project description and more information on this project are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry website, reference number 80088.

• The Government of B.C.'s request is in accordance with a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office to enable efficient and timely use of the CEAA 2012 substitution provisions. The MOU and a Backgrounder on substitution under CEAA 2012 are available on the Agency's website.

• The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency will post a decision on its website stating whether an environmental assessment is required. A notice of the Minister's decision on the substitution request will also be posted to the Agency's website if it is determined that a federal environmental assessment is required.

• 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

• Aley Mine Project (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency)
• Basics of Environmental Assessment (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency) 
• Responsible Resource Development (Canada's Economic Action Plan)

SOURCE: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Ted Laking, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of the Environment, 819-997-1441; Sofie McCoy-Astell, Communications Advisor, Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 613-960-1519, [email protected]