The Save Record Ridge Action Committee is disappointed in a draft report from the province’s Environmental Assessment Office.
It says potential environmental impacts from the proposed open-pit magnesium mine near Rossland are being examined through the existing regulatory processes and therefore a full environmental assessment is not needed.
The action committee’s Elissa Ferguson says the group is surprised by the preliminary report.
“We were very hopeful based on the content of our submission and the special considerations about this mine and the level of public concern that we would receive a decision for environmental assessment,” she stated.
Ferguson says there were also taken aback for another reason.
“We are surprised to see that WHY (Western High Yield) Resources released this information that was in the draft, as we were asked to keep it confidential,” Ferguson explained.
The Environmental Assessment Office has asked all stakeholders to respond to the draft before submitting a final report to provincial decision makers and that’s what the action committee is doing.
The assessment office’s final report is expected in the near future, which Ferguson says should put the public on notice.
“This is real,” she warns.
“There is a very large potential that the Environmental Assessment Office, despite multiple parties requesting environmental assessments are leaning towards not requiring an environmental assessment for the Record Ridge Mine,” added Ferguson.
WHY Resources has sent a letter supporting the draft report.
“We are pleased with the overall direction of the draft and believe it reflects a thoughtful and accurate assessment of the project’s scale, impacts and regulatory content,” it stated.
The letter also praises what it termed a rigorous review by the provincial departments tasked with assessing the project.
“This process has included extensive technical analysis and engagement with provincial agencies, local governments and Indigenous Nations.”
The action committee’s concerns include the potential harm the mine could cause to area residents, wildlife and the area’s tourism economy.
The City of Rossland has also called for a full environmental assessment.
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