golfyeti wrote, in part:
"Capable of bringing it to production; yes, but again, we can look at what Teck has been doing with our neighbour Galore. Essentially optimizing for years and years without any indication of moving to production."

Well, there is the matter of a tunnel which Galore needs but Schaft doesn’t. Trying to be optimistic here (gently pumping even, lol), I cite the following, taken from a Rivers Without Borders briefing document under the heading ’Time Frame’. Issued in 2012. I bolded the last bit.

. . . . . . .
Due to a series of factors, the timeline for the development of the proposed Galore Creek mine is uncertain. A new pre-feasibility study indicates that building the mine will cost about 20% more than some earlier estimates. In addition to financial pressures, new permits or amendments to existing permits will be required for the revised mill and tailings location. The pre-feasibility study estimates that commercial production from the project is unlikely to begin before 2018.

Since NovaGold announced that it intends to sell all or part of the company’s 50% stake in the Galore Creek Project, the time frame for the development of Galore Creek may then depend largely on Teck Resources, which holds an earn-back option to control up to 75% of the adjacent Schaft Creek Project, currently owned by Copper Fox. Teck’s time-limited option will be triggered by a feasibility study on Schaft Creek, a study expected to be released in the first quarter of 2012. While high mineral prices and the construction of the Northwest Transmission Line (projected to be operational by early 2014) is favorable for both the Galore Creek and Schaft Creek Projects, Schaft Creek is closer to Highway 37, does not require the construction of a tunnel, and may have a comparatively lower amount of acid mine drainage issues to contend with. Teck may choose to invest in developing Schaft Creek before investing in the development of Galore Creek.

. . . . . . .

http://riverswithoutborders.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Galore-Creek-Briefing-2012-01.pdf