Compliance Coal Corporation


Aquifers and other questions

We recently held an Open House in Port Alberni. It provided residents with an update on the proposed project and Port Alberni Port Upgrade. More than 160 people attended and many provided their questions and comments about the project. The questions below have been updated to reflect the comments we received in Port Alberni.

We are committed to providing you with accurate, current project information. Please call the Project Information Line at: 250-830-7346 or send an email to: info@theravenproject.ca if you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or through the website.

Transportation to the Port

How many trucks will travel from the mine site to Port Alberni?

The anticipated number of trucks from the mine site to Port Alberni is 75. This is based on shipping an estimated 1.1 to 1.2 million tonnes of clean (processed) coal per year. Although the August 2009 Project Description indicates a projected maximum of 1.5 million tonnes, studies show this will not be achieved. 

Port Operations

Will coal dust from the Port impact the quality of life for local Port Alberni residents?

The Port Alberni Port will be the first in Western Canada to have a fully enclosed storage facility. This will reduce or eliminate coal dust at the Port.

Will coal trucks be washed at the Port?

No. Trucks will not be washed at the Port.

Will there be an environmental assessment of the proposed Port Alberni Port expansion?

Yes. The federal government will conduct an environmental assessment of the Port expansion as part of its environmental review of the project.

Ground and Surface Water

Will the proposed project impact ground and surface water?

The project team will develop the project in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Engineers and independent consultants are currently conducting technical and environmental assessments to identify what needs to be done to protect surface and ground water. These assessments will continue until early 2010 when a detailed water management plan will be developed. The results of these assessments will be made available for public review when completed.

What watershed is the proposed project located within?

The proposed project surface infrastructure is located within the Cowie Creek Watershed.

Will there be any impacts to the Tsable River watershed?

There are no surface facilities located in the Tsable River Watershed. Following input from the community, the original surface facilities location was relocated away from the Tsable River Watershed. We plan to use an existing industrial road for transportation through the watershed.

The Baynes Sound Shellfishery

Will the proposed project effect shellfish and salmon in Baynes Sound?

No. The project will be designed and managed to protect shellfish, salmon and other aquatic species. This is required by provincial and federal law.

Quality of Life

Will coal dust impact the quality of life for local residents?

The project team will work closely with the community to minimize or eliminate potential impacts from coal dust. All coal transportation trucks will be covered and modern technologies will be used to ensure dust control. An environmental management plan will be put in place to manage dust emissions and air quality will be monitored throughout the life of the project.
For more information see our Quality of Life page

Will the quality of life for local residents be impacted?

The project team will develop the project in a socially and environmentally responsible manner and will work closely with the community as it develops plans to reduce or eliminate potential project impacts. Dust, water and noise levels will be monitored throughout the project, as part of the environmental management plan.

Would you see the mine from Fanny Bay?

The proposed mine site is located in a valley behind a ridge. Visual and aesthetic modeling is underway to reduce noise and visual impacts.

Metallurgical Coal

Will the Raven Project produce metallurgical coal?

Coal quality testing, completed by GWIL Industries in Calgary Alberta, and SGS North America Inc. in West Virginia USA, confirms 80% of the coal produced from the proposed Raven Project will be metallurgical coal that is suitable for steel-making.

What is metallurgical coal, and what would it be used for?

Metallurgical or "steel-making" coal is required to produced steel. Steel is essential to modern civilization. It is integral to the production of food, delivery of clean water and provision of housing and transportation. Homes, businesses, vehicles, recreation and industries all require steel.

Community Participation

What opportunities will there be for community input?

Opportunities for community input will be provided at every phase of the project and considerations and interests raised by the community will be incorporated into the planning and design of the project. More than 300 people attended an open house hosted by the project in October, 2009 at the Fanny Bay Community Hall. More open houses and meetings will be held as the project progresses, and a Community Advisory Group made up of local representation will help ensure community issues are identified and addressed.

The Environmental Assessment Process

Where is the proposed project in the BC environmental assessment process?

A preliminary draft document called ’Application Information Requirements’ (AIR) has been submitted to the Environmental Assessment Office for review. This document describes the issues the project will address and the information it will provide. It will be reviewed by the working group of the BC Environmental Assessment Office, made up of First Nations and federal, provincial and local government agencies. Following the working group’s review, the public will have an opportunity to review and comment on the draft document.

Link to Raven Project on BCEAO website

Does the proposed project require a federal environmental review?

Under section 5 and section 9 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, a comprehensive environmental assessment is required in relation to this project because Fisheries and Oceans Canada may issue a permit or license under subsection 35 (2) of the Fisheries Act and the Port Alberni Port Authority may provide federal lands for the purpose of enabling this project to be carried out.

Link to Raven Project on CEAA website

Transportation

How would coal be transported?

The project has considered transporting the coal to one of three port options: Middle Point in Campbell River, Duke Point in Nanaimo, and Port Alberni. Following initial review of transportation options, Port Alberni has emerged as the preferred port option due to its available facilities, proximity to markets, environmental considerations, and accessibility by either road or rail. Further studies are required to confirm this option best meets the needs of the project.

Would the coal be transported by road or rail?

The preferred transportation method is by truck, although transporting coal by rail to Port Alberni is still an alternative if the public prefers it and it is cost competitive to trucking.

Coal Washing

What is "coal washing"?

Coal washing refers to the process of separating dirt and non-coal rock material from the coal. This is a water-based process that does not use toxic chemicals.

How much water would be required for coal washing?

It is estimated that 330 to 490 cubic metres of water will be used per day for coal washing. This is equivalent to the amount of water a medium to large hotel uses in an average day.

How will the environment be protected from the coal washing process?

Almost all the water used in the coal washing process (about 99%) is expected to be recycled. Any water released will meet or be better than government water quality standards. A comprehensive water management plan will be implemented to safely and efficiently manage all water requirements.

Coal Mining

What method would be used to remove the coal?

Coal would be mined underground, using the room-and-pillar method, which means coal deposits are mined by cutting a network of small rooms into the coal seam. There would be minimal impacts to the ground surface area above the mine area. Room-and-pillar mining is a safe and effective mining method that is widely used in Canada and the United States, and is particularly well-suited to geologies such as the Raven Project.

What is "reject rock"?

Reject rock refers to the rock that is left over after the coal has been removed.The rejects are stored on the mine site in a pile. Compliance is required by law to develop a reclamation and closure plan and bonding to reclaim all areas including reject piles.The reject piles must meet stringent government standards to ensure no long term impacts to the environment.

What is a "settling pond"?

A settling pond is a man-made pond used during mining operations to catch and retain dirt and sediment from coal washing and site run-off so that it is not released to surrounding streams and rivers.
Any water that is released will meet or be better than government water quality standards.

Reclamation and Closure

Is there a reclamation or closure plan in place?

Land reclamation is a requirement of modern day mining. At every step of the mining process, from exploration to decommissioning, environmental regulations require that land is returned to a productive state. As part of the provincial government environmental approval process, the project is required to develop a ’reclamation and closure plan’ detailing site remediation at the end of the project. In addition, the project is also required to post a closure bond, to ensure sufficient funds will always be available to complete the reclamation and closure plan.

Employment

Would the proposed project provide local employment?

The proposed project is committed to training and hiring local people. Mine construction will create jobs for up to 200 people in the local region. Mine and port operations will provide training and employment for about 250 employees in well-paying, full-time positions. The project will create an estimated 300-500 indirect jobs in the local or regional economy.  

Community Benefits

Will there be any community benefits?

The project team is committed to maximizing economic and social benefits to the community. The Comox Valley has already benefitted from the exploration and planning work underway on the Raven Project. Nine First Nations members have been employed during exploration and baseline environmental assessments, and local contractors have been used for construction and exploration drilling. The project will require local suppliers and local contract services at every stage.

Other

How will extreme weather events factor into the water studies currently underway?

Climate and meteorology studies take extreme weather events into consideration. Environmental consultants are collecting and analyzing wind, temperature and precipitation data that has been recorded since 2001 at the University of British Columbia meteorological station, just north of the Tsable River. This data will be correlated with climate data that has been collected at the Comox airport since 1971 and used to create a site-specific weather summary and model of weather conditions.

What would be the impact of a major seismic event?

The project will be designed to withstand major seismic events. This is required by federal and provincial regulations.