Eskay Creek gold and silver mine in northwest B.C. gets environmental approval
CBC
The province of B.C. has cleared another hurdle in the path of efforts to restart a gold and silver mining operation in B.C.'s far northwest as part of what it says is a historic agreement with the Tahltan Nation.
The Eskay Creek project involves the reopening of a former underground mine located approximately 80 kilometres northwest of Stewart, B.C., not far from the Alaska border. The project covers approximately 58 square kilometers and would be operated as an open-pit mine.
The project, overseen by Skeena Gold + Silver, still requires provincial permits and federal approval, but the receipt of the environmental assessment certificate marks a major milestone in the process.
Eskay Creek is one of 18 projects B.C. is interested in fast-tracking, and has been the focus of a lawsuit with Alaskan tribal nations over concerns about water quality impacts.
The Tahltan have a unique agreement with the province to consent-based decision making on Eskay Creek — one of the first of its kind in Canada — which means it cannot proceed without their approval.
In issuing the environmental assessment certificate for the project, the province says it applied 38 legally binding conditions which include granting the Tahltan an ongoing role in monitoring the project's impact on the environment and incorporating Tahltan knowledge into its development.
In December, a majority of Tahltan Nation members voted in favour of an Impact Benefit Agreement with mining company Skeena Resource, which sets out a royalties scheme and provides compensation for the resources at the Eskay Creek mine site and associated impacts.
That vote came after the Tahltan Central Government announced it had negotiated an additional “upfront payment” with the mining company that would see eligible members receive $10,000 at some point in 2026.
Skeena is hoping to reopen the site and see initial production begin by 2027. The province says under the terms of the environmental assessment certificate, the project must be substantially started by 2036.
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