Project design

The Fording River Extension (FRX) Project is a proposed extension of EVR’s existing Fording River operations located in the East Kootenay region in southeastern British Columbia. The Project is anticipated to extend the lifespan of our existing Fording River operations by several decades and will continue to be a significant contributor to the local, provincial, and national economies.

Mine Development Process

Following submission of the Detailed Project Description (DPD) in July 2021, the Chief Environmental Assessment Officer (CEAO) issued a Readiness Decision on February 21, 2023, which directed additional engagement between EVR, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi ‘it and Ktunaxa Nation Council submission of a Revised Detailed Project Description (Revised DPD) for the Project.

EVR anticipates submitting a Revised DPD following continued meaningful engagement after which the project would move to the assessment phase. If the Revised DPD is accepted by the CEAO, construction of the Project would occur between 2028 to 2030. With this proposed timeline, mining operations would commence in 2030 along with the production of high-quality steelmaking coal. The project is designed as a generational project that would allow continued operations at Fording River Operations, providing benefits to local communities, Indigenous Peoples, and the public.

Coordinated assessment process

The Initial Project Description submitted in April 2020 presented an early conceptual Project design, which informed early engagement activities. Since publication of the Initial Project Design documents, the Project has been updated to reflect feedback from early engagement and progress made in refining specific components.

In July 2021, EVR submitted the Detailed Project Description to the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office. Since publication of the Initial Project Description, the footprint has been updated to reflect progress in Project design and to incorporate the feedback gathered through engagement.

The FRX Project is undergoing a coordinated provincial and federal assessment process under the B.C. Environmental Assessment Act and Canadian Impact Assessment Act.

Learn more about the coordinated assessment process

FRX design components

During the design stage, EVR is defining specific aspects of the FRX Project, such as placing mine rock where water treatment is already in place and avoiding unimpacted drainages, using the existing mine footprint to reduce new disturbance, incorporating progressive reclamation, using existing facilities and infrastructure at our Fording River operations and incorporating our more than 50 years of learnings into a better project.

Other design aspects of the Project are in progress, including ongoing baseline studies about the environment and water. EVR will continue to be fully committed to being a proud steward of the land and resources we manage, including water under the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan.

Engineering considerations will be made in this stage to determine what mining options are possible and achievable. Several other design aspects of the Project will require community engagement and ongoing feedback.