Red Chris Mine gets green light from B.C. government

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

Mine is owned by same company that operates Mount Polley

The Canadian Press, June 19, 2015

A gold and copper mine in northwestern B.C. that still faces angry opposition from its neighbours in Alaska has received approval for a full operating permit from the provincial government.

B.C. Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett announced Friday that the Red Chris Mine, owned by Imperial Metals, will soon be in full production, despite environmental concerns from First Nations, environmental groups and Alaskans, who are downstream from the mine site.

Imperial Metals losing money as Mount Polley still closed, Red Chris not at full production

Aerial view of the Mount Polley tailings pond breach.

Company has applied to restart Mt Polley, closed since failure last summer of waste dam

By Gordon Hoekstra, Vancouver Sun. May 18, 2015

Imperial Metals continues to bleed red ink as its main cash generator, the Mount Polley gold and copper mine, remains closed after a catastrophic failure last summer of its mine-waste dam.

The Vancouver-based mining company reported on Friday a loss in the first three months of 2015 of $33.4 million and revenues of $1.5 million.

Red Chris mine opening delayed

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

by  Josh Massey, Terrace Standard, Dec 17, 2014

The opening of the Imperial Metals Red Chris copper and gold mine has been delayed until the new year as the company continues to seek a final provincial environmental permit and negotiates with the Tahltan Central Council over recommendations contained in a review of the facility’s tailings pond.

Speaking in Terrace Dec. 12, Tahltan Central Council president Chad Day said the next few months will be critical for agreements with Imperial which had originally anticipated starting up its $643 million mine on Tahltan traditional territory by the end of this year.

Klabona Keepers served permanent injunction

The Klabona Keepers and their supporters gather outside the Terrace courts Nov. 26, 2014, photo by Josh Massey.

By JOSH MASSEY, Terrace Standard, November 26, 2014

Red Chris mine owner Imperial Metals has been granted a permanent injunction preventing a Tahltan group known as the Klabona Keepers from blocking access to the property north on Hwy37 North near Iskut.

The injunction, granted by Mr. Justice Robert Punnett of the B.C. Supreme Court this afternoon following a two-day hearing, prevents the activist group from impeding access to the mine at any point during its projected 28-year operation life.

B.C. gold-copper mine has potential for more environmental damage than Mount Polley breach: Report

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

The Province, November 19, 2014

ISKUT, B.C. — The results of a third-party review into the design of a northwestern B.C. gold and copper mine says it has the potential to cause significantly more environmental damage than the recent collapse of the Mount Polley tailings pond.

Engineering firm Klohn Crippen Berger made 22 recommendations for the owner of the mine, Imperial Metals (TSX:III), to improve the tailings dam of the Red Chris mine, 500 kilometres north of Terrace.

The review found the design of the dam is feasible, but that there are issues that must be addressed.

Tahltan end blockade of Red Chris Mine

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

Northwest B.C. mine blockade ends for now

Terrace Standard, Oct 15, 2014

A group of Tahltan and others who had been blocking access to the nearly-completed Red Chris copper mine owned by Imperial Metals have, for now, stopped their action.

The decision earlier this week followed the granting to Imperial Metals of an interim junction to stop the blockade and, as of Oct. 14, an enforcement order which could have resulted in the arrest of people at the blockade.

Blockade could shut mine: Imperial Metals

Tahtlan, members of Secwepemc delegation and comrades from Yuct Ne Senxiymetkwe Camp blockade Red Chris Mine site, Sept 29, 2014.

By Michael Mui, 24 Hours Vancouver, Oct 5, 2014

Imperial Metals is applying in court to have Mounties come and remove First Nations blockaders who have closed off access roads to its Red Chris gold and copper project in northwest B.C.

In an Oct. 3 filing, Imperial subsidiary Red Chris Development Company Ltd. said the blockaders — from the Klabona Keepers and the Secwepemc — “will not allow anyone or any supplies through” to reach the project site.

“An enforcement order is required as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have taken the position that they will not enforce a court order for an injunction without an enforcement order,” Imperial said.

Imperial Metals seeks court injunction to arrest Klabona Keeper Elders

UNCEDED TAHLTAN TERRITORY, BC – October 3, 2014

On October 3, 2014 Imperial Metals, the company responsible for the Mt. Polly disaster, has requested an injunction notice to remove the Klabona Keepers elders and supporters from blockading the road to the Red Chris mine in Tahltan territory. Once the court injunction is served the elders and supporters will have 24 hours to leave the area or they will face arrest.

Video of Tahltan blockade against Imperial Metals Red Chris Mine

Imperial Metals Vancouver office vandalized

The building that houses Imperial Metals, located at 580 Hornby Street in Vancouver, BC, vandalized with graffiti warning of another potential mining disaster at the Red Chris mine in northern BC.