BlackRock Mine Project - COMEX announces public hearings in Chibougamau and Oujé-Bougoumou

QUÉBEC CITY, Nov. 1, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - The Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee (COMEX) announces that it will hold two public hearing sessions for the project of the proponent Métaux BlackRock inc. for the exploitation of a deposit for the production of a concentrate of iron-vanadium ore. The purpose of the hearings is to allow citizens to be inform, transmit opinions and ask questions about the modifications of the project since its authorization in 2013. The participation of the population is essential to COMEX reviews. It also enables COMEX to receive opinions and concerns of the population before sending its recommendations, which will be sent to the Administrator of section 22 of the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement.

Interested groups or individuals are invited to submit written comments to the COMEX Secretariat prior to the hearing sessions and, if they wish, make a brief oral presentation of their comments during the hearings. However, it is not necessary to submit written comments in order to participate in the public hearings. Rules followed by COMEX during these hearings can be consulted at http://comexqc.ca/en/ under "Public Participation ? Directive on the public participation."

To better plan the public hearing process, the COMEX secretariat wishes to have prior notice of the intention of a group or individual to present comments on the project. The COMEX secretariat can be reached by phone at 418 521-3933 ext. 4065, or by email at [email protected].

THE PROPONENT'S PROJECT PROPOSAL

Métaux BlackRock inc. plans to exploit a deposit for the production of a concentrate of iron-vanadium ore located in the lac Doré geological complex, located 30 kilometers southeast of the city of Chibougamau. This project was authorized by a global certificate of authorization issued on December 6, 2013 comprising 29 conditions. In December 2017, Métaux BlackRock inc. requested an amendment to his certificate of authorization.

The main changes proposed and currently under review by the COMEX are:

• The mine's originally planned mine life of 13 years will be extended to 43 years;
• The expected average daily mining rate at 32,000 tons of ore will be reduced to
• 8,400 tons;
• Fine and coarse tailings will be placed in the same tailings pond instead of being placed in separate tailings ponds;
• The treatment capacity of the industrial water treatment plant will be 30,000 m³/day;
• Lac Denis will no longer be used as a process water basin. The process water will instead be transported directly from the polishing pond to the mine water treatment plant;
• The concentrate will be transported by truck or by train;
• The 500-person construction camp will no longer be built.

DOCUMENTATION

Information on the project is available at http://comexqc.ca/en/ under "Projects - BlackRock mining project." Documents can also be consulted at the COMEX secretariat in Québec City. Please call 418 521-3933 ext. 4065 to arrange an appointment.

COMEX

The Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee (COMEX) is an independent body that reports to the Minister of Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MELCC). Its mission is to contribute to the protection of human health and the environment and to the economic and social well-being of the peoples inhabiting the territory governed by the James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement (JBNQA) that lies south of the 55^th parallel.

INFORMATION:
Vanessa Chalifour
Executive Secretary
Review Committee (COMEX)
Tel.: 418 521-3933 ext. 4065

SOURCE Comité d'examen de la Convention de la Baie-James et du Nord québecois