Archived - Fording River Operations Swift Coal Mine Expansion

Elkford (BC)

Reasons for a Federal Assessment
Project Description
Final Decision

Reference Numbers

Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry: 12-01-67115
Fisheries and Oceans Canada: 11‑HPAC‑PA7‑00392

Environmental Assessment Type

Screening

Other Assessment Process

Government of British Columbia

Responsible or Regulated Authorities

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Reasons for a Federal Assessment

On March 23, 2012, 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)

Teck Coal Limited proposes the development of a new coal mine operating area on the western, southern and northern boundary of the existing Fording River Operations, located near the community of Elkford in south-eastern British Columbia. The proposed development would expand the existing Fording River Operations by approximately 1,200 hectares and would primarily use existing infrastructure at the existing Fording River Operations. The Proponent estimates that the proposed development would produce 175 million metric tons of coal over about 25 years and would generate approximately 1,500 million cubic metres of waste rock. The majority of the proposed development occurs within Fording Creek drainage, a tributary of the Elk River.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has determined that the scope of the project for the environmental assessment will include the construction, operation, maintenance, and decommission of two open pit mining areas at Shandley Pit and Swift Pit and associated facilities, including transportation and electrical transmission infrastructure for coal and waste hauls, pit access and transmission line right-of-ways; change in right-of-way for main site power transmission line; mine pit excavations; marshalling and lay down areas for mine equipment; waste spoils both in current operating areas, south below the spoils of Greenhills Operations, and north on the Britt Creek flats; surface water management systems including outfalls and other drainage structures; and coal stockpile and sorting areas. The scope of project also includes waste and coal haul roads, mine access roads, coal processing facilities from the proposed project within the current Fording River 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.