Mayors join finance minister to discuss, share feedback on landmark tax

Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine fined $25,000 for non-compliance

December 19, 2023 at 2:13 pm  BC, News, Politics, Provincial

The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) issued an administrative penalty totalling $25,000 to Newmont Corporation (formerly Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited) on Dec. 18, 2023.

The company was fined for not complying with an order in 2019 for Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited to install and electrify fencing around the full perimeter of the workcamp for its Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine in northeastern B.C., as required.

Electric fencing helps prevent dangerous interactions between people and wildlife, specifically in this case, grizzly bears, a blue-listed species of special concern in British Columbia. Project records show frequent grizzly bear activity in the area and at least two instances of problematic human/bear interactions in or around the camp.

Multiple inspections of the project by EAO compliance and enforcement officers, going back as far as 2018, found repeated non-compliance with fencing requirements, including incomplete, not electrified or not operational fencing. The EAO has issued multiple warnings and orders.

The deficiencies were rectified after the EAO ordered Newcrest again in July 2023 to have functioning electric fencing in place around the entire workcamp perimeter within 30 days or the workcamp would be shut down. An additional administrative penalty has been recommended related to the ongoing non-compliance and subsequent 2023 order, but a decision is still pending.

While urgent issues identified during inspections that pose an immediate risk are addressed right away through enforcement tools such as warnings and stop-work orders, project operators may also be subsequently subject to financial penalties.

The EAO takes compliance seriously. When a project receives an environmental assessment certificate, it contains legally binding requirements that must be followed for the life of the project. These requirements are intended to prevent negative environmental, social, cultural, health or economic impacts and impacts to First Nations.

As a neutral regulator, the EAO has a team of compliance and enforcement officers who monitor all certified projects, conducting both routine and spot inspections and taking enforcement action as necessary. This helps ensure that projects are built, operated and decommissioned in compliance with all requirements.

The EAO continues to actively monitor the Red Chris mine to make sure all requirements are being met.

Quick Facts:

  • The Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine is located 18 kilometres southeast of the Village of Iskut and approximately 80 kilometres south of Dease Lake.
  • Newmont Corporation acquired Newcrest Red Chris Mining Limited in November 2023.
  • The project received an environmental assessment certificate in 2005, one of the key authorizations required to build and operate the mine.
  • The approval included a requirement to implement specific measures to prevent or reduce the potential for adverse impacts to bears at the site.
  • Project construction began in 2012 and the mine opened and began extracting ore in 2015.

Learn More:

For information about the administrative penalty, go to:
https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/588510c4aaecd9001b8155e3/documents?keywords=RCDC-EF-2023&sortBy=-score&currentPage=1

For information about the Red Chris Porphyry Copper-Gold Mine project, go to: https://projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/projects-list and search “Red Chris”

For more information about the environmental assessment process, visit: 
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/environmental-assessments/the-environmental-assessment-process

View the full article from the original source

No conversations yet

Activity Stream

Thu, Dec 5, 2024 at 8:00 am - David Suzuki posted on their blog: Industry hijacks global climate and biodiversity summits
Wed, Dec 4, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Hiking the Uplands Trails in Fall
Sat, Nov 30, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Low Iron – Triple Lumen Hike
Thu, Nov 28, 2024 at 8:00 am - David Suzuki posted on their blog: Do these politicians understand carbon?
Wed, Nov 27, 2024 at 3:04 pm - Kamloops Film Society posted on their blog: KFS Holiday Giving – Nov 2024 – The Kamloops Film Society
Tue, Nov 26, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Sugarloaf Hill Hike – KamloopsTrails
Fri, Nov 22, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: A Fall Hike to Moul Falls
Thu, Nov 21, 2024 at 8:00 am - David Suzuki posted on their blog: Climate progress is unstoppable, despite U.S. election
Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Dewdrop Ridge – Bluebird Trail Loop
Fri, Nov 15, 2024 at 9:00 am - Doug Smith posted on their blog: Upper Grasslands Track – KamloopsTrails
Full Stream

Upcoming Events

KAG: Presences
Thursday Sep 26 to Thursday Dec 19
KAG: Stories That Animate Us
Saturday Oct 5 to Saturday Dec 28
Adult 6 Week Mixed Media Workshop
Monday Nov 4 to Monday Dec 9
Winter at Privato
Sunday Nov 17 to Sunday Dec 22
WCT: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Thursday Nov 21 to Monday Dec 8
Meet Santa at Sahali Mall
Saturday Nov 30 to Monday Dec 23
Gingerbread House Competition 2024
Sunday Dec 1 to Tuesday Dec 24
Kamloops Comedy Open Mic
Wednesday Dec 4
All Events