Whabouchi mining project: COMEX announces public hearings in Nemaska and Chibougamau

QUÉBEC CITY, Feb. 16, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee (COMEX) announces that it will hold two public hearing sessions on the Whabouchi mining project proposed by the proponent Nemaska Lithium Inc. The purpose of the hearings is to allow citizens to learn about the project, the environmental impact assessment and review procedure, as well as COMEX's role. It also enables COMEX to receive opinions and comments on the project and documents submitted by the proponent to the Administrator of section 22 of the James Bay and Northern Québec Agreement:

Public hearings

Date:	Monday, March 30, 2015 in Nemaska
Time:	2:00 pm
Place:	Nemaska Sports Complex 13 Lakeshore Road Simultaneous translation (Cree-English-French) available on site.

Date:	Wednesday, April 1, 2015 in Chibougamau
Time:	7:00 pm
Place:	Chibougamau Golf Club 130, rue des Forces Armées Chibougamau

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

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. 4810, or email at [email protected].

THE PROPONENT'S PROJECT PROPOSAL

"The Whabouchi project involves the development of a spodumene deposit. The mined spodumene will be sent to a processing plant where the lithium will be extracted. The projected lifespan of the project is 28 years. Once the mine is in operation, there will be 125 workers on the site. The project will involve the mining of spodumene from an open pit 1300 m long, 300 m wide and 190 m deep. The extraction rate will be 3,000 tonnes of ore and 8,600 tonnes of waste rock per day. The project will use conventional open-pit mining methods: drilling, blasting and transport of ore to a crusher at the surface."

DOCUMENTATION

Information on the project is available at: http://comexqc.ca/en/projets under "Projects – Whabouchi project." Documents can also be consulted at the COMEX Secretariat in Québec City. Please call [phone], ext. 4810 to arrange an appointment.

COMEX

The Environmental and Social Impact Review Committee (COMEX) is an independent body that reports to the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and the Fight against Climate Change (MDDELCC). 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 55th parallel.

INFORMATION:

Marie-Michèle Tessier Executive Secretary Review Committee (COMEX) Tel.: [phone], ext. 4810

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

Marie-Michèle Tessier , Executive Secretary, Review Committee (COMEX), Tel.: [phone], ext. 4810