Galore Creek Project

The Project

The Galore Creek Project is located in the steep Galore Creek Valley in the remote Coast Range Mountains of northwestern British Columbia and is encircled on three sides by high ice-covered mountains. The economic analysis for the mine plan predicts the production of 8.9 billion pounds of copper and 7.3 million ounces of gold over a 20-year period. At the time of the environmental assessment it included an open pit mine with five pits, a processing plant, a 275 m high dam, major stream diversions, a 4 km long road tunnel, a new 1,500 m long airstrip, 118 km of new road with 136 stream crossings, two 130 km pipelines, remote effluent treatment plant, several temporary and permanent camps and a 136 km long 138 kV transmission line and related switching station. Adjacent areas host high-value fish resources and wildlife (grizzly bear, goat and moose) habitat. At present, access to the property is by helicopter only.

Our Role

Rescan conducted baseline environmental studies and prepared applications for a harmonized provincial environmental assessment certificate and federal environmental assessment approval, and concurrent permitting.

Rescan initiated baseline work in November 2003 and submitted the final EA Certificate application in June 2006. The certificate was issued in the first quarter of 2007. Government agencies have commented that the project produced the most comprehensive environmental assessment completed to date in BC and that it established a high standard for new major projects.

A pre-feasibility study is currently being completed for the Project and Rescan is conducting environmental baseline studies to address data gaps associated with the revised mine plan for the Project. Baseline studies currently being completed by Rescan include aquatics, fisheries, hydrology, meteorology, soils and terrain, vegetation and ecosystems, and wildlife. In addition, Rescan is completing construction of fish habitat compensation works for the Project.