Post by
uptowndog1 on Mar 17, 2021 1:57pm
Morrison Copper-Gold Project
Dear John Plourde: I am writing to you regarding the Morrison Copper-Gold Project (Morrison) proposed by Pacific Booker Minerals (PBM). On August 20, 2020 the Acting Associate Deputy Minister of the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) asked PBM to let the EAO know by September 30, 2020 whether PBM intends to provide a substantively revised draft Supplemental Application Information Requirements (SAIR). On September 28, 2020, this deadline was extended to October 19, 2020. PBM wrote to the EAO on October 15, 2020 stating that it would not be providing another draft SAIR until the EAO addressed what PBM believes to be an error in the original environmental assessment (EA) decision. The EAO has clearly stated that it does not agree that the issues raised by PBM were errors and that these are disagreements on minor points, which do not prevent PBM from providing a satisfactory draft SAIR in order to permit the further assessment process as ordered by the Ministers to proceed. The EAO, through multiple correspondence and meetings with PBM, has explained in detail the process that the Ministers described in the Section 17(3)(c)(iii) Order (the Order) for further assessment and what is required to move the EA process forward. 2 - 2 - It has been over five years since the Ministers issued the Order, and, after multiple iterations and feedback, an acceptable draft SAIR that meets the information requirements set out in the Order has not been submitted. The June 18, 2019 correspondence from the Associate Deputy Minister of the EAO expressed concern that the delay in moving the EA process forward, caused by the failure of PBM to provide an adequate draft SAIR, may mean that the information that is in the original Application, and that is not part of the Supplemental Application required by the Order, is outdated and therefore insufficient for Ministers to make an appropriately informed decision. These concerns increase as delays persist. The EAO has considered how best to address the lack of progress being made on this further assessment and to support Ministers decision on the issuance of an EA Certificate for Morrison. In this regard, the EAO is seeking PBMs views on the following options. The EAO will also be seeking the views from Indigenous nations and other affected parties, as defined in the Order, regarding these potential options and will consider all input received. The potential options are: 1. Amending the Order to add defined timelines to complete key milestones in the further assessment process, such as for PBM to provide a draft SAIR acceptable to the Chief Executive Assessment Officer for review or for the completion of the further assessment process; or 2. Rescinding the Order entirely and proceeding to a decision by Ministers on Morrison with the information available from the previous decision. If option 1 is pursued and PBM does not meet the deadlines, the amended Order would be spent and Ministers would proceed to making a decision on whether to issue an EA Certificate for Morrison based on the information available, as in option 2. I note that proceeding to a decision without completion of the further assessment process would mean that Ministers would be making a decision based solely on existing information. However, the former Ministers, in issuing the Order, determined that the existing information was insufficient and ordered that further assessment was required to inform their decision on whether to issue an EA Certificate. After hearing the views from PBM, Indigenous nations, and other affected parties on the potential options to moving the process forward, the EAO will prepare the necessary materials to bring forward these options to Ministers for their consideration. As appropriate, the EAO may seek additional views from PBM, and other parties, in advance of referring options to Ministers. 3 - 3 - The EAO looks forward to PBMs response by March 11, 2021. Please direct future correspondence and any questions you may have to the EAOs Project Assessment Director, Katherine St. James, by email at Katherine.StJames@gov.bc.ca. Yours truly, Elenore Arend Associate Deputy Minister and Chief Executive Assessment Officer Environmental Assessment Office cc: Nathan Braun Executive Project Director Environmental Assessment Office Nathan.Braun@gov.bc.ca Katherine St James Project Assessment Director Environmental Assessment Office Katherine.StJames@gov.bc.ca
Comment by
COOKIE207 on Mar 17, 2021 2:59pm
Apparently John has chosen #2 option and the paperwork has all been submitted.
Comment by
COOKIE207 on Mar 17, 2021 6:49pm
I truly believe in will be sooner than later, We are finally making some headway to get rid of the SAIR and going back to 2003 and to deal with the work that Harvey has done.Great buying opportunity, I believe this will be worth it exspecially with the price of COPPER.