The leader of a First Nation in northern British Columbia has stated that environmental stewards are committed to ensuring accountability from the operators of a nearby copper-gold mine, which has been granted an extension to operate until 2035.
The Environmental Assessment Office of British Columbia announced on Monday that the Mount Milligan mine, located approximately 160 kilometers northwest of Prince George, has been granted approval to modify its environmental certificate. These modifications will allow the mine to extend its operations until 2035, subject to additional regulatory approvals. The province noted that the mine currently employs around 600 individuals in the area.
Mount Milligan was identified as one of the natural resource projects prioritized for expedited permitting processes by the province in response to the U.S. trade conflict.
Colleen Erickson, Chief of the Nak’azdli Whut’en First Nation, expressed that her community actively participated in the consultation process regarding the extension of the mine’s lifespan. She highlighted the significance of the mine to the local economy while emphasizing the crucial importance of clean water for both people and wildlife in the region. Erickson affirmed the commitment to ensuring the mine adheres to the environmental assessment certificate it has received.
The reserve of the First Nation is situated near Fort St. James, British Columbia, with the mine’s activities taking place within its traditional territories. The Environmental Assessment Office mentioned that the extension of the mine’s lifespan will lead to an increase in production, from 60,000 tonnes to 66,500 tonnes of ore per day, contributing an estimated additional $450 million in economic benefits to the region.
Erickson emphasized that the community’s water guardians will focus on protecting the watershed of the Nation River, described as the last pristine watershed within Nak’azdli territory. During the environmental assessment consultations, the First Nation raised concerns about gaps in baseline data collection due to insufficient involvement of First Nations in the process. The mine operator, Thompson Creek Metal Company Ltd., a subsidiary of Centerra Gold based in Toronto, is now mandated to involve Nak’azdli guardians in environmental monitoring.
Issues raised by the First Nation include concerns about retroactive authorization of effluent discharge into the surrounding waters. Erickson highlighted the need for a more robust environmental assessment process to ensure adequate environmental protection.
Despite these concerns, Erickson noted that the extension of the mine’s lifespan presents an opportunity for the First Nation to enhance its relationship with the mine’s operators. The approval granted allows for an expansion of the mine’s area by 80 hectares and an increase in the height of the mine’s tailings storage dam by 26 meters. Monitoring of wildlife mortality along transportation routes and the development of a wetland reclamation plan post-mine closure are now requirements for the operators.