There's never been a better time to Buy BC and support local growers, producers and the food we love right here in BC.  Explore Buy BC products
Government of B.C. Government of B.C. Government of B.C. Government of B.C. BC Gov News
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Live Webcast
  • News  
  • News  
  • By Ministry
    • Office of the Premier
    • Agriculture and Food
    • Attorney General
    • Children and Family Development
    • Citizens' Services
    • Education and Child Care
    • Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
    • Energy and Climate Solutions
    • Environment and Parks
    • Finance
    • Forests
    • Health
    • Housing and Municipal Affairs
    • Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
    • Infrastructure
    • Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
    • Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
    • Labour
    • Mining and Critical Minerals
    • Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
    • Public Safety and Solicitor General
    • Social Development and Poverty Reduction
    • Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
    • Transportation and Transit
    • Water, Land and Resource Stewardship
  • Subscribe
Live Webcast
By Ministry
  • Office of the Premier
  • Agriculture and Food
  • Attorney General
  • Children and Family Development
  • Citizens' Services
  • Education and Child Care
  • Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
  • Energy and Climate Solutions
  • Environment and Parks
  • Finance
  • Forests
  • Health
  • Housing and Municipal Affairs
  • Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
  • Infrastructure
  • Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
  • Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
  • Labour
  • Mining and Critical Minerals
  • Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills
  • Public Safety and Solicitor General
  • Social Development and Poverty Reduction
  • Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
  • Transportation and Transit
  • Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

Environment and Parks

Kitsault Mine project granted conditional environmental approval

Share

More from this Ministry
Honourable Tamara Davidson

Honourable Tamara Davidson

Honourable Tamara Davidson

Read Bio

Contact

Email: ENV.Minister@gov.bc.ca

close menu Environment and Parks

New, adaptive mountain-biking trail opens in Alice Lake Park

April 15, 2025 8:00 AM
New, adaptive mountain-biking trail opens in Alice Lake Park
A new, beginner-friendly adaptive mountain-biking trail at Alice Lake Park is now open, giving more people better access to local trails and a more inclusive experience.
  Read More

B.C. supports land stewardship at Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park

April 24, 2025 10:30 AM
ALL NEWS FROM THIS MINISTRY
More from this Ministry
  • Factsheets & Opinion Editorials
  • Search News
  • Minister's Bio
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Print

Environment and Parks

British Columbia News

Kitsault Mine project granted conditional environmental approval

https://news.gov.bc.ca/04005

Share

Information Bulletin

Victoria
Tuesday, March 19, 2013 2:00 PM

Share

Information Bulletin

Victoria

Tuesday, March 19, 2013 2:00 PM

More from this Ministry

  • Factsheets
  • Ministry Website
  • Ministry Photos
  • Ministry Videos

Featured Topics

  • BC Parks
  • Air Quality
  • Environmental Protection and Sustainability
  • Conservation Officer Service
  • Environmental Assessment Office

Featured Services

  • Report All Polluters & Poachers (RAPP)
  • Report a Spill
  • Recreational Sites and Trails

Environment Minister Terry Lake and Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Minister Rich Coleman have issued a conditional Environmental Assessment Certificate to Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd. for the Kitsault open-pit molybdenum mine project, located at the head of Alice Arm, approximately 140 kilometres north of Prince Rupert.

The decision was made after considering the review led by British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Office, which concluded that the project is not expected to result in any significant adverse effects, based on the mitigation measures and conditions of the Environmental Assessment Certificate. A record of the factors that the ministers considered in making their decision can be found in the Reasons for Ministers' Decision at: http://ow.ly/jdMgL

The Environmental Assessment Certificate includes 34 conditions and a Certified Project Description. Each of the conditions is a legally binding requirement that Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd. must meet to be in compliance with the certificate. It is also a legal requirement that the project be built and operated in accordance with the Certified Project Description.

Key conditions for the Kitsault Mine project that the proponent must meet include:

  • Water quality must meet BC Water Quality Guidelines or approved Site Specific Water Quality Objectives for mine contaminants.
  • Develop and implement Aquatic Effects and Marine Environment Monitoring Programs.
  • Develop and implement a Wildlife Corridor Management Plan.
  • Provide $100,000 in annual funding to support recovery of the Nass moose population and the Northwest Assessment and Monitoring Trust.
  • Develop and implement a Geographical Response Plan for spills and a plan describing appropriate forms of barrier protection along areas of the transportation route, which have bodies of water at risk from spills and hazardous materials.
  • Collaborate on water, air and noise monitoring plans and protocols for sharing monitoring information and emergency plans and develop a communications Memorandum of Understanding with Kitsault Resorts Ltd. including protocols for sharing information related to road use, monitoring information and emergency plans.
  • Complete management and mitigation plans (Social and Cultural Management, Recruitment, Training and Employment, Business Capacity, Economic Closure, and Communication) in consultation with Nisga'a Lisims Government.

Consistent with its enhanced compliance and enforcement program, the Environmental Assessment Office will co-ordinate compliance management efforts with other ministries to ensure that the office is independently satisfied that certificate conditions are met.

The project consists of an open-pit molybdenum mine that will produce 40,000 to 50,000 tonnes of ore per day, a processing plant, tailings storage facility, containment embankments, waste rock storage and low grade ore stockpile, site runoff, diversion and water collection system, water management facility, borrow pit, overburden and topsoil storage, and the use of an existing 138 kilovolt transmission line and access roads.

The estimated total capital construction costs for the project are $836 million and the operating costs are approximately $120 million per year. The project will create an estimated 960 person-years of direct employment during construction.

The project also triggered a comprehensive study environmental assessment under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. Before the project can proceed, the proponent will also need to obtain the necessary provincial licences, leases and other approvals.

The environmental assessment process involved a rigorous, thorough review that provided for significant opportunities for the Nisga'a Nation, First Nations, government agencies and the public to provide input on the potential for environmental, economic, social, heritage and health effects of the proposed project, and to ensure that Crown obligations under the Nisga'a Final Agreement, and to consult affected First Nations, have been met.

The Nisga'a Nation has filed a Notice of Disagreement with British Columbia and Canada under the Nisga'a Final Agreement concerning the environmental assessment of the Kitsault Mine project. The Province is satisfied that it can engage, in good faith, in the dispute resolution stages and meaningfully address any outstanding issues through the subsequent processes required for permitting and in accordance with conditions of an EA Certificate.

Media Contact:

Communications
Ministry of Environment
250 953-3834

https://news.gov.bc.ca/04005

Related Articles

New, adaptive mountain-biking trail opens in Alice Lake Park

April 15, 2025 8:00 AM

B.C. supports land stewardship at Pipi7íyekw/Joffre Lakes Park

April 24, 2025 10:30 AM

Increased BC Parks licence plate sales support more, better parks programs

April 30, 2025 11:07 AM
BC Gov News

Connect with the Ministry

Photos

View the Ministry's latest photos on Flickr.

Videos

Watch the Ministry's latest videos on YouTube.

The B.C. Public Service acknowledges the territories of First Nations around B.C. and is grateful to carry out our work on these lands. We acknowledge the rights, interests, priorities, and concerns of all Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis, and Inuit - respecting and acknowledging their distinct cultures, histories, rights, laws, and governments.

Government of B.C. Government of B.C.

We can help in over 220 languages and through other accessible options.   Call, email or text us, or find a service centre.

Connect with Us

  • Subscribe
  • Social and RSS

More Info

  • BC Gov
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
  • Contact Us

© 2025 Government of British Columbia