August 6, 2010
CEAA posts backgrounder on Raven Underground Coal Project
CEAA posted a backgrounder on the Raven Project today and announced a 30 day public comment period. The public will have until September 20, 2010 to comment on the project and conduct of the comprehensive study.
This is the first of at least four public comment periods provided by federal and provincial environmental regulators.
“We have been seeking input from the public all along,” said Raven Underground Coal Project CEO John Tapics. “And we welcome the start of the federal environmental review's comment period. As a result of input from the communities we have already made significant changes to the proposed project including relocating the proposed mine site to a preferred location six kilometers west of the Buckley Bay Ferry terminal.”
In advance of the provincial environmental process, the Raven Project has held a number of community, local government and First Nations meetings and two public open houses have been held to introduce the project and the proposed Port Alberni Port Upgrade and receive feedback. These meetings will continue and more public open houses will be held as part of the provincial and federal environmental reviews.
Construction of the proposed mine will create jobs for up to 200 people in the local region; and mine, port and transportation operations will provide training and employment for about 250 employees in well-paying, full-time positions. It is expected the mine will create another 300-500 indirect jobs in the local or regional economy.
The project would produce metallurgical or “steel-making” coal. Steel is made by combining steel-making coal with iron ore. All steel products are produced from this type of coal.
The proposed Raven Underground Coal Project is a project of the Comox Joint Venture. The joint venture has been created to explore the possibility of developing the Raven Underground Coal Project on Vancouver Island.
Compliance Coal Corporation, a Canadian resource company with corporate offices located in Vancouver British Columbia, is the majority partner in the Comox Joint Venture.
For more information, please contact:
Candy-Lea Chickite
Project Information Office
(250) 830-7346
www.theravenproject.ca