December 19, 2014 — A controversial mine near Southeast Alaska’s border won approval from Canada’s federal government on Friday.
The Kerr-Sulphurets – Mitchell project’s environmental protection plan got the OK from the nation’s Ministry of the Environment.
The project, known as the KSM, is in northwest British Columbia, northeast of Ketchikan and east of Wrangell.
Brent Murphy, of mine owner Seabridge Gold, says the federal action is an important step.
“It means that the project can proceed,” Murphy said. “We’ve received both the provincial and Canadian governments’ approvals.”
“Essentially, it’s an approval in principal and now we move forward in the permitting phase.”
He says the project has about 100 of the 150 permits it needs. It’s also seeking investors to develop the proposed $5.3 billion mine.
Read the full story at Alaska Public Media