A Richmond-based lime producer has won the provincial government's environmental approval to build a plant and quarry at a site near Giscome.
Environment Minister Mary Polak and Energy and Mines Minister Bill Bennett issued an environmental assessment certificate to Richmond-based Graymont Western Canada Inc. for the project, the provincial government said Tuesday.
The plant is to be located at the southwest end of Eaglet Lake about 400 metres from the lake's edge and a kilometre from Giscome village and will be fed via conveyor from a quarry 4.3 kilometres away.
Given concerns raised about the environmental impact during the public consultation period, Fraser-Fort George Regional District director Kevin Dunphy said the decision will likely draw a mixed reaction locally but on balance he believes it will be good for the community.
"I look at the long-term of 50 years of employment in our area, that part could be very positive," Dunphy said. "Basically, that's always been kind of an industrial zone, back in the time of the old Giscome sawmill so where they're building has already been quite a bit disturbed."
Emissions for the project are capped at 729,000 tonnes per year, enough room to burn coal to heat the kilns. If it meets that threshold, it would increase the province's greenhouse gas emissions by 1.2 per cent.
But, according to a ministers' reason for decision, the carbon tax is "expected to induce Graymont to select the lowest emissions and most economic fuel mix for the project in the future."
If Graymont turns to natural gas, emissions would drop by 14 per cent, and if it turns to biomass, 30 per cent, according to documents accompanying the decision.
First unveiled in 2007, the proposal was put on hold later the same year because of uncertainty over the provincial government's plans for tackling greenhouse gases.
It was revived in 2013 and in March and halfway through the 180-day environmental review process, it was put on hold once again to give its owners time to review the impact of using a haul truck rather than a conveyor to transport stone to the plant.
At full build out, the quarry will extract up to 1.7 million tonnes per year with a life span of 50 years. The proposed plant site was previously used by CN Rail to quarry ballast rock and has an existing rail connection and gravel road access.
Graymont officials could not be reached for comment late Tuesday but had said previous that pending approval, construction of the first phase would begin in summer 2017 employing 40 to 60 people and employ 10-15 people fulltime once constructed.
Cost of construction is estimated at $80-$90 million and would include a plant, centred on two kilns, capable of producing 200,000 tonnes of lime a year, as well as storage and handling facilities. A 600-metre rail spur connection the plant to CN Rail's line would also be constructed.
Concern had also been raised by some Giscome residents about the plant's location and they have said it should be located next to the quarry, which is about three kilometres further away from the community.
The ministers' decision and accompanying reports are posted with this story at www.pgcitizen.ca.
