The BC Environmental Assessment Office has rejected the proposed Raven underground coal mine on Vancouver Island following a review of a 12,000-page application by Compliance Coal Corp.
The Environmental Assessment Office "has determined that the application does not contain the required information and has decided not to accept the application for detailed review," the ruling states.
The report is accompanied by 114 pages identifying areas not adequately addressed. Lack of consultation with First Nations and insufficient information about the effect of the 7,600-acre (3,100-hectare) mine on drinking water and air quality are among concerns.
Compliance Coal spokeswoman Candy-Lea Chickite said the company is reviewing comments from the Environmental Assessment Office. "This may take some time and company personnel will not be available for comment until the review process is over," she said.
A B.C. Environment Ministry statement said it is now up to Compliance Coal to review the Environment Assessment Office comments, revise the application and re-submit it, if the company chooses to do so.
The company estimates the mine, south of the Courtenay, could generate $1.1 billion for the north Island economy and create 200 jobs during construction and 350 jobs once the mine is built. It would also require a port upgrade at Port Alberni to handle coal shipments. Compliance had originally planned to open the mine in 2015.
