107th Year - Week 52
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
www.interior-news.com
Single Copy • $1.30 ($1.24 + 6¢ GST)
PM 40007014
NEW COACH Zabunyan joins SSS boys’ basketball.
SPORTS/A11
LETTERS TO SANTA Local children share their Christmas wishes.
NEWS/A22, 24 & 25
A CHRISTMAS STORY St. Joseph’s School’s message of remembering the reason for the season culminates in the appearance of the star Himself, baby Jesus Christ, at the end of an entertaining performance of A Play in a Manger. See more photos of school performances on A26-27. Chris Gareau photo
ELDERS LUNCHEON Gitxsan elders celebrate Christmas.
KSM receives federal environmental approval
THREE RIVERS/B2
INSIDE LETTERS A7 SPORTS A11 COMMUNITY A18 OUR TOWN A23 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B4
By Chris Gareau Smithers/Interior News
Seabridge Gold’s KSM gold, copper, silver, and molybdenum mine received approval from federal Minister of Environment Leona Aglukkaq on Friday. This comes after provincial approval at the end of July, according to Seabridge Gold vice president of environmental affairs Brent Murphy. The environmental assessment review was a joint venture by the two levels of government under the Environmental
bulkleyvalleywholesale.com
Assessment Act. “We’re very happy about the decision (Friday) because this represents a culmination of seven-and-a-half years of work of a very dedicated team of professionals,” Murphy said. Construction, which does not have a planned start date, would not be done by Seabridge Gold. Murphy explained that a joint venture partner and feasibility study need to be done before whoever the partner becomes starts digging. He said Seabridge’s role was to get the permits needed to start operations before passing the mine on to an
operator. The project is expected to have an average ore extraction rate of approximately 130,000 tonnes per day over an anticipated 52year mine life. Ore would be mined by a combination of open pit and underground mining methods from four mineral deposits Seabridge Gold has an office in Smithers, and Murphy invited anyone who had questions about the project to stop by. “It’s our belief it will become an anchor for economic development in northwestern B.C.,” said Murphy. See FIRST NATIONS on A4