"At this time, after considering the project information received to date from the proponent and the comments from the public, the agency and other federal departments have not identified significant adverse environmental effects that may result from the project after applying standard mitigation measures," the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency recently told Compliance.
The CEAA also said that Raven would continue to be assessed as a comprehensive study and would not be "referred to an independent joint federal/provincial expert review panel".
The agency has earmarked $C100,000 from its participant funding program to assist with the federal environmental assessment of the planned mine.
In October, Compliance announced it had received positive results of a prefeasibility study for Raven. The room and pillar operation is expected to begin production in 2013.
The property near Comox has a measured and indicated coal resource of 72 million tons and an inferred resource of 59.4Mt, according to US consultant Pincock, Allen and Holt, which prepared the NI 43-101 compliant review.
Capital expenditures for the project’s pre-construction phase are estimated at $240.1 million, with $32 million more in sustaining capital.
Construction is expected to begin at Raven in 2012 following the receipt of all necessary permits, and first coal shipments are anticipated in 2013.
Clean coal tonnage will initially range from 650,000t to 1.1Mt per year.
Once processed, Raven’s coal will be hauled to Port Alberni in western Vancouver Island and sent to Asia, most likely Japan and Korea.
