B.C. Approves Environmental Assessment Certificate for Silica Sand Mine Near Prince George
Subhadarshi Tripathy
7/14/20262 min read
British Columbia has issued an Environmental Assessment Certificate for a proposed silica sand mine north of Prince George.
The project, known as the Angus project, is being developed by B.C.-based Vitreo Minerals.
The proposed $300-million mine would be located about 60 kilometres north of Prince George, near Bear Lake.
It would produce silica sand used in hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, where sand helps keep fractures open during crude oil and natural gas extraction.
“This is a major milestone for the project and for the company,” Vitreo Minerals CEO Scott Broughton said.
Mine Moves Toward Permitting
The project would include an industrial mine quarry, a raw sand plant, water management infrastructure, waste rock and fines stockpiles, a finishing plant and related infrastructure.
After a nearly three-year review, B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office concluded the Angus project is not expected to cause significant adverse effects once mitigation measures and proposed conditions are applied.
The environmental certificate allows the project to move into the permitting stage.
The mine must still receive other provincial approvals and permits before construction can begin.
Province Says Project Could Bring Economic Benefits
The Environmental Assessment Office said the project would provide economic benefits through jobs, business activity and government revenue.
It also said the mine would supply a product domestically that is currently imported from the United States.
Broughton said most hydraulic fracturing sand is currently brought in from operations in Wisconsin.
“We just saw a big opportunity to deliver it locally, make it local,” he said.
He said the company sees growing demand because of oil and gas activity in the Montney region and LNG development on the coast.
Certificate Includes 19 Conditions
The environmental certificate includes 19 legally binding conditions.
Those include requirements related to air quality, wildlife protection, greenhouse-gas reduction, health and emergency planning, and ongoing monitoring of impacts to First Nations.
The Environmental Assessment Office said the project is also expected to support local and First Nations employment and training.
The Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Tsay Keh Dene Nation and West Moberly First Nations participated in the assessment process.
Mine Expected to Create Construction and Operations Jobs
Broughton said the mine would have an initial life of about 20 years.
He said it is expected to create about 150 jobs during construction and nearly 140 jobs during operations.
Broughton described the Angus project as a starting point for the company rather than its final ambition.
“This is meant to be our starter mine,” he said, adding that the company wants to establish a market for the material before considering larger expansion.
He said the project could be significant for Prince George, Bear Lake, Summit Lake, Mackenzie and communities farther north, including Chetwynd, where the material may eventually be delivered.
Under the Environmental Assessment Certificate, the mine project must be substantially started by 2036.
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