B.C. issues environmental assessment certificate for silica sand mine near Prince George

The province has issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate to B.C.-based Vitreo Minerals for its $300 million proposed silica sand mine north of Prince George which will produce sand used in hydraulic fracturing to support B.C.'s crude oil and liquified natural gas extraction.

B.C. issues environmental assessment certificate for silica sand mine near Prince George Angus Project to produce sand used in fracking to support anticipated boost in LNG The province has issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate to B.C.-based Vitreo Minerals for its proposed silica sand mine north of Prince George. Called the Angus project, the $300 million silica sand mine will be located about 60 kilometres north of the city, near Bear Lake. It would produce silica sand used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to open the fractures that are created during crude oil and natural gas extraction.

"This is a major milestone for the project and for the company," said Vitreo Minerals CEO Scott Broughton. The project would include an industrial mine quarry featuring a raw sand plant, water management infrastructure, waste rock and fines stockpiles, finishing plant and related infrastructure. After a nearly three-year review, B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) said the Angus project would not cause significant adverse effects once mitigation measures and proposed conditions are applied.

Local solution The EAO said the mine would provide economic benefits through jobs, business activity and government revenue as well as supply a product domestically that is currently imported from the United States. Broughton said most hydraulic fracturing sand is currently imported from operations in Wisconsin. "We just saw a big opportunity to deliver it locally, make it local," he said.

"We like the metrics around this market because there's lots of LNG stories on the coast now, lots of oil and gas happening in the Montney especially, and the demand for that material is pretty dynamic and growing." The environmental certificate will now allow the mine to proceed to permitting. It includes 19 legally binding conditions, with requirements for air quality, wildlife protection, greenhouse-gas reduction, health and emergency planning and ongoing monitoring of impacts to First Nations.

Broughton said the mine will have an initial life of approximately 20 years and is expected to generate 150 jobs during construction and nearly 140 jobs throughout operations, but he anticipates continued growth. "This is meant to be our, our starter mine. We didn't want to go and build up a $10 billion mine right out of the gate, right?

This is essentially us starting on this proposition then and establishing a market for the material," he said. "It's a pretty substantial thing for Prince George, for Bear Lake, for people in Summit Lake, for people in Mackenzie and all the way up to Chetwynd, where ultimately the material will be delivered." The EAO says the project will also support local and First Nations employment and training, and Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Tsay Keh Dene Nation and West Moberly First Nations participated in the assessment process.

The project must receive other provincial approvals and permits before construction can begin, but under the environmental assessment certificate, the mine project must be substantially started by 2036.