Gold mine plan goes to next step – by Northwest Bureau (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – January 21, 2013)

The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.

A federal environmental assessment has begun for Treasury Metals’ proposed Goliath gold project near Dryden. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is looking for public input on any potential environmental impacts the proposed gold mining project might have on the area and what should be examined during the environmental assessment.

The public can review and comment on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) guidelines, available at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (registry reference No. 80019). Copies of the guidelines are also available for viewing at the Dryden and Sioux Lookout public libraries.

The report identifies potential environmental effects to be considered, and the information and analysis that needs to be included in the EIS. Treasury Metals wants to develop, construct and operate an open-pit and underground gold mine just east of Dryden.

The mine would process 2,500 tonnes per day of rock containing various concentrations of gold over a mine life of up to 12 years.

Treasury Metals owns the property which is close to infrastructure (electricity, natural gas and highways). Ore would be partially processed on-site and shipped off-site for further refining and upgrading.

Feb. 17 is the deadline for written comments to be forwarded to: Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 55 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 907, Toronto ON, M4T1M2; or Goliath@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Following the comment period, the agency will finalize and issue the EIS guidelines to Treasury. An application period for participant funding and a future public comment period related to the EIS will be announced later, the agency said in a news release.

The agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address the effects, in support of sustainable development.