Cliffs hopeful Ring of Fire EA will be approved in 2014

THUNDER BAY -- Cliffs Natural Resources is hoping to have the environmental assessment on its proposed chromite mine in the Ring of Fire approved by mid 2014.

Still in the early stages of that EA, the resource development company held an open house Wednesday evening at the Airlane hotel outlining the assessment process and giving an overview of the project.

“We’re working to complete the provincial planning documents, which are called the terms of reference, and we’re starting to do the environmental assessment where we compare the existing environment with the projected project impacts,” said Jason Aagenes, director of environmental affairs for Cliffs Ferroalloys.

“We’ll also look at ways to reduce, eliminate or mitigate any negative impacts,” he added.

Cliffs have held a number of open houses in municipalities and First Nations across Northern Ontario during the process of trying to get the mine up and running, and Aagenes said they encourage the public to come out to get familiar with the project and offer their input.

Most of the questions they receive are about the environmental impacts of the proposed mine and the job opportunities available.

“The main purpose for open houses like this is making sure we have a fulsome and inclusive environmental assessment,” Aagenes said.

Cliffs is aiming to submit the EA by mid-2013 and hope its approved the following year.