Public Notice
Sukunka Coal Mine Project – Request for Substitution – Public Comments Invited

March 15, 2013

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 is seeking comments from the public on a substitution request by British Columbia (B.C.) for the environmental assessment of the proposed Sukunka Coal Mine Project located in B.C.

In considering the government of British Columbia's request, the Minister of the Environment (the Minister) must be satisfied, under CEAA 2012 that:

  • the process to be substituted will include a consideration of the factors set out in subsection 19(1) of CEAA 2012;
  • the public will be given an opportunity to participate in the environmental assessment;
  • the public will have access to records in relation to the environmental assessment to enable their meaningful participation;
  • at the end of the environmental assessment, a report will be submitted to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency;
  • the report will be made available to the public; and
  • any other conditions that the Minister establishes are or will be met.

The Minister would also establish the following additional conditions for this project:

  • involvement of expert federal departments in the B.C. process,
  • B.C. meeting the CEAA 2012 365-day time frame for completing the environmental assessment;
  • B.C. conducting procedural aspects of Aboriginal consultation; and
  • B.C. making available to Aboriginal groups funding provided by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to support consultation during the substituted environmental assessment.

The Agency and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office have finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to enable efficient and timely use of CEAA 2012 substitution provisions. The MOU addresses the processes leading to substitution, the conduct of the substituted environmental assessment and associated Aboriginal consultation and the coordination of decision-making, monitoring and follow-up after the environmental assessment. The MOU and a Backgrounder on substitution under CEAA 2012 are available on the Agency's website.

Written comments must be submitted by April 4, 2013 to:

Sukunka Coal Mine Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410 - 701 West Georgia Street
Vancouver B.C. V7Y 1C6
Telephone: 604-666-2431
Fax: 604-666-6990
Sukunka@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Map depicting the location of the project, as described in the current document.

All comments received will be considered public.

A notice of the Minister's determination with respect to the request for substitution will be posted on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's Internet site (registry reference number 80013).

Xstrata Coal Canada proposes to develop and operate an integrated surface and underground metallurgical coal mine located approximately 55 kilometres south of Chetwynd and 40 kilometres west of Tumbler Ridge, in northeast British Columbia. The proposed project would initially produce 1.5 to 2.5 million tonnes per year increasing to 6 million tonnes per year when underground mining begins. The mine life is expected to exceed 20 years.

Document Reference Number: 7

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