Skip to content

EA suspended

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. has suspended its environmental assessment activities in the Ring of Fire. The U.S.
284530_635066233098767243.JPG
Bill Boor, Cliff's senior vice-president of global ferroalloys. (tbnewswatch.com)

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. has suspended its environmental assessment activities in the Ring of Fire.

The U.S.-based company, in a release issued Wednesday morning, says the temporary decision was brought about because of delays “related to the environmental assessment process, land surface rights and negotiations with the province of Ontario.”


The company listed a number of reasons for the stoppage in its release.

  • Delayed approval of the Terms of Reference for the provincial Environmental Assessment (EA) process.
  • Uncertainty regarding the federal EA process due to the current judicial challenge by a number of the impacted First Nations.
  • Unresolved land surface rights issues following a February 2013 Mining and Land Commissioner hearing.
  • Unfinished agreements with the Government of Ontario that are critical to the project's economic viability.

Senior vice-president of global ferroalloys said until the issues are resolved, it’s impractical for Cliffs to continue working on the process.

“Until we’re in the process you kind of run out of the ability to work on the process,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “We can only go so far.”

The company’s stock has dropped in the past year from a high of $53.13 to a low of $16.74.

It’s currently trading at $17.37.

But Boor said that drop hasn’t had an impact on the decision to suspend the EA process.

While Cliffs remains committed to the Ring of Fire, Boor said the project is at risk because of a loss of momentum, not affordability.

“Cliffs is not pencils down on this project by any means,” he said.

Northern Development and Mines minister Michael Gravelle said he understands why the suspension would raise concerns but based on his discussions with Cliffs, the project will still be going ahead.

A project as large and complex as Cliffs proposed mine means that it’s going to take time.

“I am confident that we will be able to work our way through this,” Gravelle said.

Greenstone mayor Renald Beaulieu said the decision is a disappointment but the minerals under the ground in the area aren’t going anywhere. The project needs to be done right, even if that means delays he said.

“If this is the way to make it right then I’m in support of it,” he said.

Greenstone supported a joint-panel review process, which was turned down by the federal government, along with several First Nations communities that is now under a judicial challenge. Beaulieu said while it’s important for all of Northwestern Ontario that the development happens, how it happens is more important for the people who live there.

“We have to look after the people,” he said.





push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks