Public Invited to Comment on Additional Information for Environmental Review of Proposed New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project

OTTAWA, March 1, 2013 /CNW/ - The Federal Panel reviewing the proposed New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project invites the public to comment on the additional information filed by the proponent, Taseko Mines Limited.

The additional information was provided in response to questions the Panel sent to the proponent on November 26 and December 10, 2012.  The questions were issued following the Panel's review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), submitted by the proponent on September 26, 2012, and the Panel's review of the comments received during the public comment period.

The Panel is providing a 15-day public comment period to give Aboriginal groups, the public, governments and other participants an opportunity to submit their views in writing to the Panel on the adequacy and technical merit of the additional information submitted by the proponent as measured against the EIS Guidelines. The opportunity to present more detailed views and information on the project and its environmental effects will be provided at the subsequent public hearing.

The Panel will determine if the EIS is sufficient to proceed to public hearing based on its own review of the additional information and on its review of the comments received. If the Panel determines the EIS, supplemented by the additional information, is insufficient to proceed to public hearing, it will ask the proponent to provide further information in the necessary areas. If the Panel determines it has sufficient information to proceed to public hearing, a public notice will be issued 30 days before the commencement of the hearing.

The Panel must receive all comments by March 16, 2013. Comments will be considered public and posted on the online registry for this project.  Forward your written comments in either official language by mail or e-mail to:

Livain Michaud, Panel Manager
Federal Review Panel - New Prosperity Project
160 Elgin Street, Ottawa, ON  K1A 0H3
Tel.: [phone]
[email protected]

The additional information, the information requests and the EIS are available on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca , registry number 63928.

To be kept informed of the progress of the review, provide an e-mail address to the Panel Manager.

About the project
The proponent, Taseko Mines Ltd., is proposing to develop an open pit gold-copper mine located 125 km southwest of Williams Lake, B.C. The proposed project also includes tailings and waste rock areas, an onsite mill, an approximately 125 km long power transmission line corridor, an access road and a load-out facility.

SOURCE: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency

Media may contact: 

Lucille Jamault
Communications
Federal Review Panel - New Prosperity Project
Tel.: [phone]