In the past week CoalWatch Comox Valley has uncovered 18 new coal licence applications that have been filed for tenures in the Comox Valley area. These coal licence applications were filed with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas, between May 10, 2013 and May 24, 2013, by Feisa Resources Canada and Golden River Resource Inc.
Golden River Resource Inc. has filed 8 coal licence applications, with 4 applications in the Anderson Lake area, just north of Comox Lake, and 4 applications in the Oyster River area. The total area covered in the Golden River applications is 9,075 hectares.
Feisa Resources Canada has filed 10 coal licence applications in the Fanny Bay-Union Bay-Royston area. The total area covered in the Feisa Resources applications is 13,312.5 hectares. These Feisa applications appear to be for exactly the same coal that is targeted for the proposed Raven Underground Coal Project.
"We were stunned to see this amount of new coal licence applications covering such a large area of the Comox Valley", said CoalWatch president John Snyder. "The applications in the Anderson Lake area are a huge concern due to their proximity to the Puntledge and Tsolum River watersheds".
"It's shocking there's been no public notice on these coal licence applications, other than being listed on an obscure government website. These applications are the first stage in any future coal mine exploration or development, and there needs to be more transparency and public notice when these are filed," added Snyder.
On two recent coal licence applications in the Anderson Lake and Oyster River areas, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) passed a motion requesting no licence be issued due to concern that coal mine exploration, and further coal mine development, impacts existing industries.
"CoalWatch intends to monitor the review process on these new coal licence applications, and if the CVRD is asked to comment on these applications, we'll notify the public so they can voice their concerns," said Snyder. "These latest applications are the first step on the slippery slope of transforming the Comox Valley into what many fear would be a mini-Appalachian type coal mine region."
For more information and maps of the coal licence application tenures visit: www.coalwatch.ca
— CoalWatch Comox Valley