Erdene Resource Development Corporation said the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Donkin Export Coking Coal Project in Nova Scotia, Canada has been filed last week.
The EIS was filed by Stantec on behalf of Xstrata Donkin Coal Management.
The proposed Donkin Project is subject to review as per the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and Nova Scotia’s Environment Act.
An environmental assessment process for the project is currently underway and is expected to conclude by the second quarter of 2013 with a decision from the federal and provincial environment ministers.
The project proposal entails construction and operation of an underground coal mine on Cape Breton Island with an expected mine life in excess of 30 years.
Underground operations would include multiple continuous-miners producing about3.6 million tons per annum (Mtpa) of run-of-mine (ROM) coal.
A coal handling and processing plant will be developed to process the ROM coal for an output of 2.75 Mtpa of product coal.
CEAA and the Nova Scotia environment department are seeking public response on the project until September 14, 2012.
The Donkin Project is a joint venture between Xstrata Coal with 75% and Erdene at 25% with Xstrata revealing plans in April to sell their entire stake.
The Xstrata Donkin Sale Process is anticipated to be concluded before the end of 2012.