A mining watchdog group says it's disappointed with a federal appeal court ruling that appears to clear the way for a gold and copper mine in northern British Columbia
The court set aside a lower-court ruling and confirmed a federal environmental assessment of Imperial Metals' Red Chris project, east of the Alaska Panhandle.
The Vancouver-based mining company says the appeal court dismissed an application by MiningWatch Canada, which called for a judicial review of the federal assessment claiming the project didn't have enough public consultation.
Joan Kuyek of MiningWatch says the ruling is a huge disappointment and the approach the federal court took on the issue is appalling.
Her group warns the project would be in one of the few remaining wilderness regions of North America.
The federal environmental assessment said the open-pit development was not likely to cause significant environmental damage, but MiningWatch says acid drainage from the mine would likely require treatment for at least 200 years.
