another step
November 10, 2010
Avanti Announces Progress on BC and Canadian Environmental Assessment
Vancouver, British Columbia: Avanti Mining Inc. (TSX-V: AVT) through its wholly owned subsidiary Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd. ("Avanti" or the "Company") is pleased to announce progress on the environmental assessment of the Kitsault Mine Project ("the Project"). On November 5, 2010, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency ("CEA Agency") and the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office approved the release of the draft Application Information Requirements ("AIR") to technical specialists representing both federal and provincial regulators. Regulators will have 30 days to provide comments to the Company on the draft AIR. Following regulator review, the public will have 30 days to comment on the draft AIR. This public comment period will take place early in 2011. The AIR sets the requirements of the environmental assessment Application pursuit to an environmental assessment Certificate from British Columbia and an authorization to proceed to federal permitting from the government of Canada.
The CEA Agency as of November 8, 2010, has commenced its own public comment period for the federal environmental assessment. The public comment period will close on December 10, 2010. The Agency is seeking comments from the public on the Project. This is the first of several public comment periods that will occur during the federal environmental assessment process. The CEA Agency has confirmed the environmental assessment for the Project will be conducted as a comprehensive study. It is expected that the Project will undergo a single cooperative environmental assessment in accordance with the principles set out in the "Canada-BC Agreement on Environmental Assessment Coordination".
Following discussions with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada, Avanti is confident that the Project will not require a Schedule 2 Amendment under the Metal Mines Effluent Regulations (MMER). A Schedule 2 Amendment under MMER is required when a mine proposes the use of a fish bearing waters for disposal of mine waste (tailings). A Schedule 2 Amendment requires a federal Order in Council. Avanti has designed the tailings facility, and other major project components, to avoid fish bearing lakes and rivers.
Avanti has targeted the end of the first quarter 2011 for submission of the Project's environmental assessment Application. Avanti anticipates the completion of the federal and provincial environmental assessment process prior to the end of 2011. Project permitting will proceed concurrently with the review of the environmental assessment Application in order to advance the Project into construction as soon as all necessary permits have been received.