Public Notice
Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project – Public Comments Invited

December 22, 2014 — As part of the strengthened and modernized Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 (CEAA 2012) put in place to support the government's Responsible Resource Development Initiative, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) commenced a federal environmental assessment for the proposed Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project, located in British Columbia. The Agency invites the public to comment on which aspects of the environment may be affected by this project and what should be examined during the environmental assessment.

The public can review and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines, a document that identifies the potential environmental effects to be taken into consideration, and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS.

Written comments must be submitted by January 30, 2015 to:

Crown Mountain Coking Coal Project
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
410-701 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V7Y 1C6
Telephone: 604-666-2431
Fax: 604-666-6990
CrownMountain@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

To view the draft EIS Guidelines or for more information, visit the Agency's website (Registry reference number 80087).

Copies of the draft EIS Guidelines are also available for viewing at the following locations:

• Elkford Public Library
  816 Michel Road
  Elkford, British Columbia
   
• Sparwood Public Library
  110 Pine Avenue
  Sparwood, British Columbia
   
• Fernie Public Library
  492 3rd Avenue
  Fernie, British Columbia
   
• Cranbrook Public Library
  1212 2nd Street North
  Cranbrook, British Columbia

Consistent with the transparency and public engagement elements of CEAA 2012, this is the second of four opportunities for the public to comment on this project. All comments received will be considered public.

Following this comment period, the Agency will finalize and issue the EIS Guidelines to the proponent. An application period for participant funding and a future public comment period on the proponent's EIS will be announced at later dates.

Projects subject to CEAA 2012 are assessed using a science-based approach. If the project is permitted to proceed to the next phase, it will continue to be subject to Canada's strong environmental laws, rigorous enforcement and follow-up, and fines for non-compliance.

The Proposed Project

NWP Coal Canada Ltd. is proposing to construct and operate an open-pit metallurgical coal mine in the East Kootenay Region, approximately 12 kilometres from the District of Sparwood in southeastern British Columbia. As proposed, the production capacity of the project would be 3.7 million tonnes per year, over a mine-life of about 16 years.