Cliffs Chromite Project

Public Comments Invited and Federal Funding Available

OTTAWA, Oct. 17, 2011 /CNW/ - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) is starting a comprehensive study type of environmental assessment for the proposed Cliffs Chromite Project located in northern Ontario. The Agency invites the public to comment on the project and the conduct of the comprehensive study.

The Agency has prepared the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines that identify potential environmental effects to be addressed and information that needs to be included in the proponent's EIS. Public comments on the draft EIS Guidelines are invited and will be reviewed and considered before the document is finalized and issued to the proponent.

The draft EIS Guidelines and more information on this project are available on the Agency's website at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca (Registry reference number 11-03-63927). The document is available in paper copy by request as well.

All comments received by November 16, 2011 will be considered.

The Agency is also making available $40,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to participate in the federal environmental assessment of this project. Funding applications received by November 16, 2011 will be considered.

This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the environmental assessment of the project.

The proposed project consists of constructing, operating and eventually decommissioning an open pit/underground chromite ore mine (30 year mine life at a predicted extraction rate of 6,000 to 12,000 tonnes per day) and an ore processing facility. The proposal also includes an integrated transportation system consisting of a new north-south all-season road corridor and a new ferrochrome production facility, which would be located at a different location than the mine site.

This project is also subject to the environmental assessment requirements of the province of Ontario. Canada and Ontario are coordinating the respective environmental assessment processes for the proposed project.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

For more information, media may contact:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Céline Legault