Archived - Line Creek Operations Phase II Coal Mine

Elkford (BC)

Reasons for a Federal Assessment
Project Description
Final Decision

Reference Numbers

Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry: 09-01-52126
Fisheries and Oceans Canada: 09‑HPAC‑PA7‑00385

Environmental Assessment Type

Screening

Delegation Agreement

This project was assessed pursuant to an agreement to delegate the federal environmental assessment of the Project to the Government of British Columbia.

Responsible or Regulated Authorities

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Reasons for a Federal Assessment

On December 18, 2009, it was determined that an environmental assessment was required in relation to the project because Fisheries and Oceans Canada considered taking action in relation to subsection 35(2) of the Fisheries Act.

Project Description (as posted in the Notice of Commencement)

This is an amendment to the scope of the project as a result of the January 21, 2010 Supreme Court of Canada ruling in MiningWatch Canada v. Canada (Minister of Fisheries and Oceans et al.).

Teck Coal Limited proposes the development of two new coal mining operating areas, including a waste rock dump, adjacent to the north boundary of their existing Line Creek Mine operations located approximately 22 kilometres northeast of Sparwood in south-eastern British Columbia. The proposed development would expand the existing Line Creek operating area by about 1,100 hectares and would use existing infrastructure at the existing Line Creek operations. The Proponent estimates that the proposed development would produce 52 million metric tons of coal over about 20 years (average of 2.6 million tons per year) and would generate approximately 600 million cubic metres of waste rock. The majority of the proposed development occurs within the Dry Creek drainage, a tributary of the Fording River.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has determined that the scope of the project for the environmental assessment will include the construction, operation, maintenance and decommissioning of two open pit mining areas at Burnt Ridge and Mount Michael and associated facilities, including transportation and electrical transmission infrastructure; marshalling area, fueling stations and parts storage areas; surface water management and treatment systems including settling ponds and drainage structures; waste rock storage; coal stockpile and sorting areas; and overburden and soil storage. The scope of project also includes storage of waste rock and process coal rejects from the proposed project within the current Line Creek operations.

Final Decision

On July 6, 2012, the new Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 came into force which replaced the former Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. As a result, there is no longer a requirement to complete the environmental assessment of this project.