Home ›

Granite exploration project seeks work permit

by Mona Mattei on 15 Jan 2012
in
Granite exploration project seeks work permit
Local concern is growing over two granite mining exploration applications 25 – 30 kilometres (km) up the Granby River north of Grand Forks.
 
The notices of work for the two projects, initiated by North American Stone Inc.,  indicate their intention to cut trails into two locations, remove up to 10,000 tonnes of stone from both sites and then to reclaim, re-seed and plant trees along the trails on completion. The first site is 14.5 km north of the Hummingbird bridge, and the second is 50 metres after the turn off onto Lynch Creek Road, 10.5 km past the bridge.
 
“Not only is it in my backyard, but this area is prized for its recreational and wildlife values,” said Jenny Coleshill, a local resident who lives near the proposed exploration sites. “There is an established climbing crag with bolted routes on the granite cliffs and a mountain bike trail. The Granby is also an important wildlife corridor and this is a well used travel route and at this point it is a bottle neck in the valley and could block wildlife passage. Not to mention health and watershed impacts.”
 
Granite has traditionally been used as building materials and more recently used for kitchen countertops, gravestones, and tiles. Granite is typically quarried in large slabs that are then broken down in smaller sections according to use.
 
The company will not be using explosives for the projects, choosing to use a fracturing compound called asemite expanding gel to break the rock to minimize rock fracturing, according to the applications.
 
Grand Forks city council received the two applications from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources and decided that they had no comments other than to request a storm water management plan be in place.
 
“Both sites are located within the Kettle River watershed,” explained manager of technical services and operations for the city, Sasha Bird in her report to council. “My concerns here would be if they caused a rock slide and rock, sediment, etc. were allowed to enter the Granby River.”
 
Councillor Gary Smith echoed Bird’s comments adding some concerns of his own.
 
“They’re not going to be using dynamite, but they’re going to be using a product called asemite which is an expanding gel that they put into drill holes,” said Smith. “I’d just be curious if there’s some sort of information on what the impact of that might be – with a spill or environmental impact.”

The Ministry has accepted comments, which closed on Jan. 15, on the applications and will be making a decision on them in due course. 

Comments

Out of proportion (granite?) quarry photo?

by Daniel Max on 19 Jan 2012 at about 00:09.
Mona, where is this (granite?) quarry photo from? The photo looks more like a southern European marble quarry with at least 3,000,000 plus tonnes extracted. The photo is completely out of proportion and inflammatory associated with the granite exploration project article, especially when you consider that a 10,000 tonne block of granite would form a cube approximately 15.5 metres per side, (the size of a large modern house, likely with granite countertops). Due diligence please instead of an immediate negative bias from unrepresentative imaging.

Fair comment

by Mona Mattei on 19 Jan 2012 at about 15:22.

Thanks Daniel for your comment. The quarry pictured is in fact a granite quarry. While you are correct, the current applications are not for such extensive work, this is an example of a quarry and should this project go forward, residents of the area could be dealing with more than just samples being withdrawn. 

But yes, fair comment that perhaps this graphic representation may not have set the best tone, but does match the tone of concerns raised by the citizens and certainly encourages attention to the topic.

re: Fair comment

by Daniel Max on 20 Jan 2012 at about 14:11.
Thank you Mona for your fair and cordial response.

Mining work permit process doesn't include locals

by Mona Mattei on 18 Jan 2012 at about 12:57.

 The work permit application process probably doesn't include notification of local residents. You can contact the Ministry representative below to see what options you have.

 

Lynn Davis

By email: mmd-cranbrook@gov.bc.ca

Or by Canada Post: Ministry of Mines
1902-Theatre Road
Cranbrook BC V1C 7G1
250 426 1747

 

Why were Property Owners Downstream not Contacted or Notified?

by Hockley on 17 Jan 2012 at about 10:28.
Grand Forks city council had a chance to hear about this proposal but as a local this is the first I've heard of it?! My property touches the Granby river mere km downstream and I am invested in the health of the environment for my region. Now it is too late for me to do research and submit my comment to be considered. I think a letter to all locals residents of the Granby valley should have been sent stating the details of this proposal with a clear deadline to submit comments should the residents have concerns. A simple query on Google of 'asemite' produced nothing more than the Boundary Sentinel and Gazette's articles. I'd like to hear more details about the entire project... when is it supposed to start and finish? Have independent environmental assessments been completed on the impact both to the wild life in and around the Granby River and how it will effect the forested areas they are proposing to destroy and then rebuild? Was their a previous Sentinel article about this project that I missed?