Osisko Development has been issued an environmental assessment certificate for a proposed underground gold mine in the Interior.
Known as Cariboo Gold, the mine will be located just within the boundaries of the District of Wells, with plans to operate for 16 years.
During that time, it is expected to produce roughly 25 million tonnes of ore, and employ close to 500 workers once in operation.
Some residents had issued concerns over the project’s location at the edge of town, which Osisko responded to by reducing its proposed size.
Under their new certificate, the mine will also be required to meet 22 legally binding conditions laid out in the document.
Those inclide: plans to minimize impact on the community, establishing a new drinking water supply for the District, and supporting remediation around Wells and the Jack of Clubs Lake.
Other protections focus on mitigating ecological effects and limiting the impacts on the Barkerville woodland caribou herd.
As part of the assessment, both the Lhtako Dene and Williams Lake First Nations offered consent for the project, while the Xatśūll First Nation did not object.
You can find the Minister’s reasoning for issuing the decision at this link.
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