By Mandy Vocke

$1.8B Blackwater Gold Project gets environmental approval

Apr 16, 2019 | 10:10 AM

NORTHERN B.C.— The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the proposed Blackwater Gold Project can proceed. Yesterday’s (April 15) announcement comes after a thorough and science-based environmental assessment process concluding the project is not likely to cause significant environmental effects when mitigation measures are taken into account.

New Gold Inc. can now proceed with obtaining any additional authorizations and permits from federal departments.

The project includes the construction, operation and closure of an open-pit gold and silver mine located 110 kilometres southwest of Vanderhoof, B.C. The proposed $1.8 billion project could create an estimated 1,500 jobs during construction and another 495 jobs during operations over the lifetime of the project. 

“The Government of Canada is protecting the environment and growing the economy,” McKenna says. “By evaluating the project based on science and Indigenous knowledge, and putting in place legally-binding measures that will protect the environment, we are helping create economic growth and nearly 2,000 jobs for the community.”

The Minister’s decision Statement establishes 172 conditions that must be fulfilled throughout the life of the project.

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The conditions will reduce or eliminate potential effects on the environment and include protecting:

• wetlands, fish and fish habitat
• the current use of lands and resources by Indigenous Peoples
• physical and cultural heritage and structures and
• wildlife and species at risk