Michel Creek Coking Coal project environmental assessments progressing

CanAus Coal Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Australia’s CoalMont PtyLtd., has proposed to construct, operate and decommission an opencast metallurgical coal mine in the Elk Valley: the Michel Creek Coking Coal project.

The project will be located approximately 15km southeast of Sparwood, British Columbia. It would produce 3.5 million tpy of raw coal (2.1 million clean t), over a mine-life of at least 10 yr.

Raw and clean coal quality results have indicated a mid-volatile bituminous hard coking coal similar to that being mined in the surrounding Elk Valley mines.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has decided it is necessary that the project require an environmental assessment.

The agency has now commenced a federal environmental assessment for the proposed project in British Columbia.

The public has been encouraged to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment, as detailed in the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines.

Once this comment period concludes, the agency will finalise and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent.

Written comments are required to be submitted by 18 December 2015. This is the second of four opportunities for the public to comment on this project. All comments received will be considered public.

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/19112015/michel-creek-coking-coal-project-public-comments-invited-3181/