Granite exploration project seeks work permit

By Mona Mattei

Local concern is growing over two granite mining exploration applications 25 – 30 kilometres (km) up the Granby River north of Grand Forks.

 

The notices of work for the two projects, initiated by North American Stone Inc.,  indicate their intention to cut trails into two locations, remove up to 10,000 tonnes of stone from both sites and then to reclaim, re-seed and plant trees along the trails on completion. The first site is 14.5 km north of the Hummingbird bridge, and the second is 50 metres after the turn off onto Lynch Creek Road, 10.5 km past the bridge.

 

“Not only is it in my backyard, but this area is prized for its recreational and wildlife values,” said Jenny Coleshill, a local resident who lives near the proposed exploration sites. “There is an established climbing crag with bolted routes on the granite cliffs and a mountain bike trail. The Granby is also an important wildlife corridor and this is a well used travel route and at this point it is a bottle neck in the valley and could block wildlife passage. Not to mention health and watershed impacts.”

 

Granite has traditionally been used as building materials and more recently used for kitchen countertops, gravestones, and tiles. Granite is typically quarried in large slabs that are then broken down in smaller sections according to use.

 

The company will not be using explosives for the projects, choosing to use a fracturing compound called asemite expanding gel to break the rock to minimize rock fracturing, according to the applications.

 

Grand Forks city council received the two applications from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources and decided that they had no comments other than to request a storm water management plan be in place.

 

“Both sites are located within the Kettle River watershed,” explained manager of technical services and operations for the city, Sasha Bird in her report to council. “My concerns here would be if they caused a rock slide and rock, sediment, etc. were allowed to enter the Granby River.”

 

Councillor Gary Smith echoed Bird’s comments adding some concerns of his own.

 

“They’re not going to be using dynamite, but they’re going to be using a product called asemite which is an expanding gel that they put into drill holes,” said Smith. “I’d just be curious if there’s some sort of information on what the impact of that might be – with a spill or environmental impact.”

The Ministry has accepted comments, which closed on Jan. 15, on the applications and will be making a decision on them in due course.