Acceptance by the BC Environmental Assessment Office of the environmental assessment application for its proposed Harper Creek mine was one of the highlights of 2014, according to a year-end report by Yellowhead Mining Inc.
The 180-day application review period commenced on Jan. 28, 2015.
Other highlights of last year included completion of an updated feasibility study for the Harper Creek project, including updated resource and reserve estimates, initial capital costs, sustaining capital costs and operating costs, and demonstrating the economic viability of the project
"2014 was a turning point for Harper Creek with the acceptance of the EA Application for Harper Creek for formal review,” said Frank D. Wheatley, CEO of Yellowhead. “We look forward to 2015 as the year Yellowhead receives an EA certificate for Harper Creek and begins the construction permitting phase of development."
"We are of the strong view that Harper Creek is both a permittable and a buildable project, and will provide economic development in the Thompson-Nicola region of British Columbia in an environmentally responsible fashion" added Wheatley.
According to the year-end report, the company's strategy for 2015 includes:
• Completing the review of the EA Application and receiving the EA Certificate
• Commencing the construction permitting process for Harper Creek upon receipt of the EA Certificate
• Continuing consultation with First Nations and all stakeholders, including the public and local communities, to address any potential environmental and socio-economic impacts of Harper Creek and the Company's mitigation strategies
• Pursuing additional working capital to continue the ongoing development of Harper Creek
Harper Creek is a proposed open pit copper-gold-silver mine that would be located about 10 km southwest of Vavenby.