Avanti Responds and Will Oppose Judicial Review Application by Nisga'a Nation
VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - August 02, 2013) - Avanti Mining Inc. (TSX VENTURE: AVT) (PINKSHEETS: AVNMF) through its wholly owned subsidiary Avanti Kitsault Mine Ltd. ("Avanti" or the "Company") has received notice of a petition filed by the Nisga'a Nation, challenging a decision by the BC Environmental Assessment Office ("EAO") that granted an Environmental Assessment Certificate to the Kitsault Mine Project. Avanti intends to oppose this petition.
On March 18, 2013 Avanti was granted an Environmental Assessment Certificate from the Province of British Columbia for the Kitsault Mine. A federal environmental assessment decision is pending. The Nisga'a Nation has filed a petition with the BC Supreme Court against the ministers of Environment, Energy Mines and Natural Gas and the British Columbia government.
"This action taken by the Nisga'a Nation is disappointing." said Craig Nelsen, President and CEO of Avanti Mining Inc. "However we are confident that the Province's EA process is robust and that all environmental and human health issues have been thoroughly addressed -- years of assessment and thousands of pages tell us so."
Avanti is also confident that all legal requirements -- including those in the Nisga'a treaty -- have been more than addressed. "While legally exempt from the BC Environmental Assessment process due to its pre-existing mine permit, Avanti voluntarily opted in because of the strong track record of EAO addressing aboriginal and treaty rights," continued Mr. Nelsen.
"We believe this project can offer tremendous training and employment opportunities for Nisga'a citizens and others, and we are committed to moving forward with this," said Mr. Nelsen.
The project has a high degree of environmental protection. It includes extensive monitoring and protection measures, as well as water treatment if required. These were all developed through the EA process. The process also included a comprehensive Environmental, Social & Cultural Impact Assessment (ESCIA) done specifically with respect to the Nisga'a. This was done with extensive input from and in consultation with the Nisga'a.
Mr. Nelsen concluded by stating, "We have full confidence in the BC environmental assessment process. The courts have repeatedly found it sufficient to meet the Crown's duty to aboriginal groups and no decision of the Environmental Assessment Office has ever ultimately been overturned by the courts."
The Company is focused on the development of the past producing Kitsault molybdenum mine located north of Prince Rupert in British Columbia.