MACKENZIE VALLEY REVIEW BOARD APPROVES ALL SEASON ROAD FOR PRAIRIE CREEK MINE
Vancouver, British Columbia, September 12, 2017 - Canadian Zinc Corporation (TSX: CZN; OTCQB: CZICF) is pleased to announce that the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board has recommended approval of the proposed All Season Road for the Company’s Prairie Creek Mine, in the Northwest Territories.
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (“Review Board”) issued its Report of Environmental Assessment and Reasons for Decision for Canadian Zinc’s Prairie Creek All Season Road Project for the Prairie Creek Mine (the “EA Report”) on September 12, 2017 and submitted the Report to the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs.
The Review Board recommends the approval of the Prairie Creek All Season Road be made subject to implementation of the measures described in the Report, which it considers are necessary to prevent significant adverse impacts on the environment and local people.
“We are pleased that the Review Board has concluded that the All Season Road may proceed to the regulatory phase for approvals, said Alan Taylor, Chief Operating Officer of Canadian Zinc. “The Review Board has recommended a series of measures and made suggestions, intended to reduce or avoid identified impacts and mitigate any significant adverse impact on the environment. Canadian Zinc is confident that the measures prescribed by the Review Board, many of which build on Canadian Zinc’s commitments made during the EA, can be satisfactorily addressed.”
“The enthusiastic support for the Project voiced by the leaders and members of Nahanni Butte Dene Band, the nearest potentially affected community, based on expected socio-economic benefits, was recognized by the Review Board in considering its decision.”
“We acknowledge the work of the Review Board staff and various government departments and agencies throughout the lengthy EA process, including Parks Canada as part of the road runs through Nahanni National Park Reserve, and we appreciate their cooperation in addressing and resolving many issues”, concluded Mr. Taylor.
“This is an important milestone for the Prairie Creek project and Canadian Zinc Corporation”, stated John F. Kearney, Chairman and Chief Executive of Canadian Zinc Corporation. “Having successfully completed the environmental assessment and secured the recommendation of the Review Board that development of the All Season Road be approved, we will now proceed to quickly finalize the Definitive Feasibility Study and pursue financing for the construction and development of the Prairie Creek Mine,” added Mr. Kearney.
The full text of the Report of Environmental Assessment and Reasons for Decision (331 pages plus appendices), together with all proceedings, transcripts, technical reports and detailed information on the environmental assessment of the Prairie Creek Mine All Season Road EA1415-01[2014] are available on the website registry of the Review Board at https://reviewboard.ca/registry/project.php?project_id=680, under the file of Canadian Zinc Corporation.