Podunk Below the Masthead (Tuesday, April 13, 2010)

Avanti readies itself to meet the public, and the winner is ... the Daily News and the latest details on a string of attempted child abductions highlights the Tuesday news call.

Daily News, front page, headline story
AVANTI MINING RECEIVES ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT -- A full environmental review is in the works for the Kitsault Mine project, as the Avanti Mining Corporation opts in for the full review, public information sessions and participation will begin later in the year.

The Daily News celebrates its own in the Tuesday edition, as the paper outlines the accolades provided to Editor Wendy Webb for her editorial of October 2009 "Watson Island - haste makes waste" which urged the City of Prince Rupert to go slow on its tax sale plans for Watson Island, out lining how she "paints a breathtaking mural of possibilities of what could be done instead." Of course as things have evolved the city has indeed gone slow on the process, with a bill of 100,000 dollars a month the cost of maintenance and now a court process in motion with the former owner Sun Wave Forest Products, all of which in itself kind of takes your breath away!

We are introduced to the  New Executive Director of the Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce, as Janet Crocker who traces her Rupert roots to four generations takes over the ED duties from outgoing director Lynne Graham.

And the recent death of a Prince Rupert teenager on the waterfront is examined from the point of view of the loss among her fellow students and the educational community at School District 52.

The sports section features a look at the latest happenings at the Centennial golf course as the Rupert course prepares for another spring, summer and fall of golf.

(Daily News Archives for April 13, 2010 )

Avanti Mining receives environmental assessment act
Daily News editor wins at Ma Murray
Schools deal with the tragic loss of a bright mind
New Chamber Executive Director
Important Community Notice

The Northern View
Prince Rupert RCMP seeking public's assistance following attempted child abduction -- The latest information regarding a string of attempted child abductions in the city (see article here)

The Northern View
Port Authority getting set for the start of cruise season -- The Port Authority prepares for the upcoming 2010 cruise season on the North coast (see article here)

The Northern View
Anti-HST campaign now underway -- The movement to stop the Liberal plans of a Harmonized Sales Tax gets underway across BC and in Prince Rupert (see article here)

The Northern View
Northwest Liberals holding planning conference in Rupert -- Liberals of the Northwest make their plans for a trip to Rupert to discuss their approach to the issues of the day (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Third attempted child abduction takes place -- CFTK provides its interpretation of the reports of attempted child abduction on the North coast (see article here)

CBC News British Columbia, Daybreak North
No new items were posted to the Daybreak website for Tuesday

Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now. The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

Daily News, front page, headline story
Avanti Mining receives environmental assessment act 
By Monica Lamb-Yorski 
The Daily News 
Tuesday, April 13, 2010

 Avanti Mining Inc announced April 12 its voluntary “opt-in” application to have its Kitsault mine project reviewed under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act has been accepted by the Environmental Assessment Office in Victoria.

 “It means we’re going to have a full environmental review and will start holding public information sessions later in the year,” said A.J. Ali, Avanti Mining’s Chief Financial Officer.

Although the Project was not reviewable under the BCEAA, Avanti chose to apply for the BCEAA review in order to provide the fullest opportunity for input from the public and First Nations on the potential environmental, social and health impact of this significant project, stated the company in a press release.

Ali told the Daily News that First Nations are the most concerned about the mine’s reopening and he thinks that is justified because the previous owner of the mine dumped tailings into the ocean.

“We’ve promised not to do that and have talked to the Nisga’a Nation. We are very mindful of the commitment of the government to consult with the Nisga’a under their treaty agreement.”

President & CEO Craig Nelsen said the company is pleased with the order for the environmental assessment because the provincial EA process is well positioned to manage a proposed project of the scope of Kitsault Mine. 

“The BCEAA has distinct timeframes for approval and facilitates harmonization with the federal environmental requirements,” Nelsen commented in their press release.

The next step is to receive a Section 11 Order that specifies the “Application Information Requirements” (AIR) to be included in the EA application.

The Company has been collecting baseline environmental data on the project for 18 months as well as evaluating the database of environmental information that exists from previous operations dating back to the 1960s and an approved Reclamation Plan from 1996.

In an interview with the Daily News in February, Nelsen said he was confident communities like Prince Rupert could benefit directly from the mine’s reopening. There will be 330 direct employees at the mine and the spin-offs regionally could be as high as 1,000 he noted, adding that he envisions a seven-day on and seven-day off scenario. Employment could be accessible for workers from the surrounding communities of Prince Rupert, Terrace, Stewart and the Nisga’a villages. 

Ali confirmed that the company will continue to provide seasonal jobs until actual 
construction begins.

Speaking from his office near Denver, Colorado, Ali said a framed photograph of a ship loading coal at Ridley Terminals hangs on the wall.

 “I was involved with the development of the Quintet Mine between 1981 and l983. They are thinking of opening that mine again. I hope that happens and that the North gets some new development,” Ali commented.

Avanti is focused on the development of the past-producing Kitsault molybdenum mine located 140 kms north of Prince Rupert in British Columbia. The mine was abandoned by then owners Amax in the early 1980s due to high costs of production.

This week Avanti is in B.C. Supreme Court with a claim against the town of Kitsault’s present owner, Krishnan Suthanhiran.

The company is seeking a declaration that it is entitled to use the access in the town, and secondly a permanent injunction preventing Kitsault Resorts Ltd. from denying its use of the right of way.

Kitsault, a modern day ghost town, was built in 1981 to accommodate workers and their families at the old molybdenum mine. It had everything up-to-date, including curbed roads, a school, houses, hospital, shopping centre and swimming pool.

Suthanhiran, President of the Virginia based Best Medical International, Inc., - a biomedical engineering firm that specializes in medical devices to treat cancer - purchased the town in January 2006 for $5.7 million US, with plans to develop it as an eco-retreat.