The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
The mining newspaper for Alaska and Canada's North
North of 60 Mining News – April 1, 2018
IDM Mining is focused on permitting and developing an underground mine at its Red Mountain gold-silver project a few miles from Stewart, British Columbia.
IDM Mining's 2017 underground drill program identified the potential to significantly expand the high-grade gold-silver resource at its Red Mountain Mine project in northern B.C.
IDM Mining Ltd. March 20 reported that the provincial and federal environmental assessment processes for its Red Mountain project near Stewart, British Columbia, are on pace to be completed this fall. In the meantime, IDM's engineering team and consultants continue optimization studies for developing an underground mine at the gold-silver project.
"While the Red Mountain project continues to advance through the review periods under the BC Environmental Assessment Act and Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, the engineering team continues to optimize all components of the proposed mine," said IDM Mining President and CEO Robert McLeod. "The value engineering phase continues to reduce project risk and identify potential opportunities to enhance Red Mountain's economics. We are on-track to be one of the few near-term, high-grade underground development projects in North America."
A feasibility study completed in 2017 outlines plans for a 1,000-metric-ton-per-day operation that is expected to average roughly 78,000 ounces of gold per year over an initial six-year mine-life.
The study identified a number of areas to enhance the proposed Red Mountain Mine.
Optimization studies since the completion of the feasibility study have focused on metallurgy and processing, road design, geohazards, and powerline interconnection with BC Hydro.
IDM Mining said the environmental review process includes respectful, thorough and ongoing consultation with Nisga'a Nation, as well as over 50 regulatory members.
The Red Mountain project began a 180-day application review period under the BC Environmental Assessment Act on Nov. 1. To date, IDM has received and responded to review comments from the technical working group co-led by the BC Environmental Assessment Agency (EAO) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, which includes the participation of Nisga'a Nation and regulatory agencies.
The company has also responded to feedback from community members and stakeholders during the public consultation period.
To resolve outstanding technical comments and information requests, IDM requested a 30- to 45-day suspension of the application review period from EAO on March 12, which was granted the next day.
The review period, which has 46 days remaining, will resume once the final issues have been resolved.
Following the review period and requisite agency reviews, IDM anticipates receiving the Environmental Assessment Certificate for Red Mountain in the third quarter of this year.
"With only a few issues left to resolve, and all of those being easily addressed in the near term, we expect both the provincial and federal environmental assessment processes to be completed this summer and fall," said IDM Mining Chairman Michael McPhie. "Permitting a mine is never an easy endeavor, but at Red Mountain we have a modern, well-designed, highly-economic project that has tremendous support locally and positive working relationships with Nisga'a Nation and the Province of BC. We look forward to completing these final steps in a timely manner and potentially proceeding ahead with development."
–SHANE LASLEY
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