Nov 5 2015
IDM Mining Ltd. is pleased to announce that the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office has initiated the environmental assessment (EA) of the Red Mountain Underground Gold Project under Section 10(1)(c) of the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act.
This formalizes the commencement of the environmental assessment ("EA") for the Project and is another critical step towards the ultimate approval and potential development of this low capital cost, high-grade underground gold mine in the prolific "Golden Triangle" area of northwestern British Columbia.
PROJECT UPDATE
IDM submitted a Project Description during the summer of 2015 to both the BCEAO and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the "Agency"). The Project Description was reviewed in advance by First Nations, who have been engaged in constructive dialogue with IDM. The community of Stewart, located 18 km to the southwest of the Project, has also been engaged.
Over the past two years, the Company has completed extensive environmental baseline studies to support the EA process. Baseline studies have included: surface and groundwater quality, hydrology, climate, geochemical studies, archeological assessments, geohazards assessments, and fisheries and wildlife studies.
Project engineering studies, including tailings and water management design, are progressing in conjunction with the EA process, with an aim to complete a NI 43-101 compliant Pre-feasibility Study by mid-2016. Additionally, the Company will update the Project's NI 43-101 Resource Estimate, which will include IDM's 2014 drilling and historic results from the 141 Zone; this area of mineralization runs parallel to the current resource zones.
"We are very pleased to have the EA and engineering phases of the Red Mountain Project advancing as planned," said Michael McPhie, Executive Chairman of IDM Mining. "It has always been our strategy and intent to advance the permitting of Red Mountain over this period. In recognizing the reality that permitting is a critical phase in project development, we have approached this process as an opportunity to distinguish Red Mountain by carefully, methodically and collaboratively working our way through the process in an efficient and timely manner."
Robert McLeod, President and CEO of IDM added: "Our vision for a proposed, high-grade underground gold mine with potential low operating and capital costs, within a daily commute of my hometown of Stewart, would have a significant, positive impact on northwestern British Columbia. Advancing the permitting process puts us closer to realizing that opportunity."