Coordinated assessment process

Key assessment milestones and activities to date:

• Ongoing

  The coordinated assessment process is expected to take several years and will include multiple opportunities for public participation. EVR welcomes direct public feedback between these official periods. 

  Submit your feedback to FRX by contacting us at feedback@evr.com or 1.855.806.6854

• 2018 - present

  Engagement efforts to understand concerns from Indigenous groups, government, local communities, and the public began in late-2018 and will continue over the duration of the Project.

• February 2023

  B.C. EAO released a Readiness Decision report with the recommendation that the FRX Detailed Project Description be revised and resubmitted after further consultation with the Ktunaxa Nation Council, and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it? EVR is  committed to continued engagement with Indigenous Peoples and communities and will continue to identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration in the revised Detailed Project Description process, and throughout the Project. 

• July 2021

  Teck, as the former operator of EVR, submitted the Detailed Project Description (DPD) to the B.C. EAO in late-July 2021. Acceptance of the DPD by the EAO ends the Early Engagement Phase and starts the EA Readiness Phase. The Readiness Decision determines whether the Project is ready to enter the next phase of the assessment; it is also a consensus-seeking point with participating Indigenous groups.

• November 2020

  In November 2020, Teck submitted a request to put the federal process on hold temporarily to coordinate the B.C. Environmental Assessment Readiness Decision and federal Notice of Determination. The federal process will restart prior to the Environmental Assessment (EA) Readiness Decision.

• Fall 2020

  Teck submitted a federal Initial Project Description and Plain Language Summary to the IAAC in October 2020. A 20-day public comment period was held from October 12 to November 3, 2020. The Summary of Issue was issued in November 2020.

• August 2020

  The Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada designated the FRX Project into the Planning Phase of the federal assessment process on August 19, 2020. The Project is expected to be subject to a federal assessment in coordination with the provincial assessment process.

• Spring 2020

  Provincial Initial Project Description (IPD) and Early Engagement Plan were submitted to the B.C. EAO in April 2020. A 45-day public comment period was held May 8 to June 22, 2020, and included two virtual public open houses hosted by B.C. EAO. The Summary of Engagement was issued in July 2020.

• B.C. Environmental Assessment Office

  Sheldon Reddekopp, Project Lead
  Email: sheldon.reddekopp@gov.bc.ca
  Phone: 778.943.6999

• Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

  Fording River Extension Project
  Email: fording@iaac-aeic.gc.ca
  Phone: 604.666.2431