From the Thursday, December 8, 2005 online edition of the Daily Inter Lake . . .
A Canadian mining firm has changed course and announced plans to pursue a "major" mine review rather than a "fast-track" project through the British Columbia provincial government, the Flathead Basin Commission learned Wednesday.
Kathy Eichenberger, regional manager for British Columbia's Ministry of Environment, told the commission that the Cline Mining Corp. was having initial discussions with provincial officials in Victoria this week to discuss the process for reviewing major mining projects.
She went on to describe the process outlined in the province’s Environmental Assessment Act.
"We applaud it," said Steve Thompson, Glacier field representative for the National Parks Conservation Association. "This watershed is way too important to try and do a fast-track open-pit coal mine. And we commend the British Columbia government from making sure that Cline doesn’t try to cut any corners."
Cline had announced plans to apply for a small-mine permit by the end of November for a coking coal mine in the Foisey Creek drainage, one of the northernmost tributaries to the North Fork Flathead River, which flows south to Flathead Lake. Forward-looking financial documents earlier declared that the company planned to obtain a small-mine permit, with coal production limited to 250,000 tons per year, and then pursue a major mining permit to ramp up production.
A small-mine permit involves environmental review requirements that fall well short of the major project requirements outlined by Eichenberger.
As a result of Cline's plans, mining in the Canadian Flathead has clearly gained a higher profile. Wednesday’s meeting was attended by political and government leaders from Montana and British Columbia. There was a passel of scientists, along with tribal and county representatives and state and federal land and wildlife managers who sit on the commission.
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