Public Notice
Kitsault Mine Project – Public Consultation Period and Federal Funding Available

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) invites the public to comment on the environmental assessment of the proposed Kitsault Mine Project, in British Columbia.

The Agency is currently identifying potential environmental effects of the project to be examined during the technical stages of the environmental assessment, which will be conducted as a comprehensive study. It is also seeking comments from the public on the project and its potential effects on the environment. Identified issues will be considered in the assessment.

To assist the public in providing comments, a background document is available on the Agency’s Web site, in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry, under reference number 10-03-57958. To obtain a copy of the document, please communicate with the contact listed below. The background document contains information on the proposed project, the federal requirements of a comprehensive study, the cooperative assessment process with the province of British Columbia, and the proposed environmental components to be considered in the review of the project.

Public comments received by December 10, 2010 will be considered. All written submissions received will be considered public as part of the project file. Interested persons or groups are invited to send their comments in the official language of their choice to:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Sherwin Shih, Project Manager
Kitsault Mine Project
320 - 757 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC  V6C 1A1
Tel.: 604-666-2431 / Fax: 604-666-6990
Email: Kitsault@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the environmental assessment of the project. Future public participation opportunities will be announced at a later date.

Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd. is proposing the construction and operation of an open-pit molybdenum mine, located approximately 140 kilometres north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and south of the head of Alice Arm, British Columbia. The proposed annual ore production rate will be 40,000 tonnes per day over approximately a 15-year operation period.

$50,000 in Federal Funding Available for Public Participation

The Agency is also making available $50,000 under its Participant Funding Program to assist groups and individuals to take part in the federal environmental assessment of this project. This funding is intended for activities that will follow the public consultation currently underway. Applications received by the Agency by December 10, 2010 will be considered.

To submit an application or to obtain additional information on the program, contact:

Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Jean-Philippe Croteau
Participant Funding Program
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor, Ottawa ON  K1A 0H3
Tel.: 1-866-582-1884 or 613-948-1738
Fax: 613-948-9172
Email: PFP.PAFP@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Information on the Participant Funding Program, including the guide, the application form and the contribution agreement, is also available at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca.