The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) announced late yesterday that Taseko Mines Ltd.'s New Prosperity gold-copper mine project in B.C. will undergo an environmental assessment by a federal review panel. It will be the proposed mine’s second review.
Last week, speculation was rampant that such a review would be approved, despite last year’s rejection of the original Prosperity mine proposal.
The minister of environment has instructed the CEAA to design a process that will thoroughly assess whether the proposal addresses the negative environmental impacts identified in the review of the original Prosperity project.
He also directed the agency to use information from the first review to ensure a timely decision. The minister has issued a 12-month deadline for the panel to submit its report.
Taseko Mines (TSX:TKO) proposes the construction and operation of a large open pit gold-copper mine development, approximately 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake.
For more about Prosperity, check out Business in Vancouver’s award-winning “Chasing Prosperity” series (issues 1101-1104; November 30 – December 27, 2010.)
Jennifer Harrison
@JHarrisonBIV