Fording River Operations: The Swift Project Description Submitted to: BC Environmental Assessment Office 1st Floor 836 Yates Street PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt Victoria, BC, V8W 9V1 Pursuant to: British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act Submitted by: Teck Coal Limited – Fording River Operations April 2011 Teck Coal Limited – Fording River Operations: The Swift Project TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 PROPONENT INFORMATION ...................................................................... 1 1.1 Key Proponent Contacts .................................................................................................. 1 2 PROJECT INFORMATION ............................................................................ 2 2.1 Location ........................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Project History and Overview .......................................................................................... 2 2.3 Deposit Geology and Resource Characterization ........................................................... 6 2.3.1 Stratigraphy ......................................................................................................... 6 2.3.2 Structure .............................................................................................................. 8 2.4 Components and Infrastructure ..................................................................................... 10 2.4.1 Conceptual Mine Plan and Schedule ................................................................ 10 2.4.2 On-Site Infrastructure ........................................................................................ 22 2.4.3 Existing Off-Site Infrastructure .......................................................................... 24 2.5 Waste Management ....................................................................................................... 26 2.5.1 Mine Waste Disposal ......................................................................................... 26 2.5.2 Mine Water Management .................................................................................. 27 2.6 Environmental Management .......................................................................................... 28 2.7 Mine Reclamation, Closure and Monitoring................................................................... 29 2.8 Alternatives .................................................................................................................... 30 3 EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ......................................................................... 32 3.1 Physical Environment .................................................................................................... 32 3.1.1 Geology ............................................................................................................. 32 3.1.2 Soils ................................................................................................................... 32 3.1.3 Hydrology .......................................................................................................... 33 3.1.4 Water Quality ..................................................................................................... 33 3.1.5 Air Quality .......................................................................................................... 33 3.1.6 Noise ................................................................................................................. 34 3.2 Biological Environment .................................................................................................. 34 3.2.1 Biogeoclimatic Zones and Ecosystems ............................................................. 34 3.2.2 Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat ............................................................................... 36 3.2.3 Fish and Fish Habitat ........................................................................................ 37 3.2.4 Environmentally Sensitive Areas ....................................................................... 39 3.2.5 Species at Risk .................................................................................................. 42 3.3 Human Environment ...................................................................................................... 44 3.3.1 Heritage Resources ........................................................................................... 44 3.3.2 Land Use and Tenure........................................................................................ 44 3.3.3 Socio-Economics ............................................................................................... 46 3.3.4 Aboriginal, Commercial and Recreational Fishery and Fishing Areas ................................................................................................................. 47 4 POTENTIAL PROJECT-ENVIRONMENT INTERACTIONS ........................ 48 5 CONSULTATION ......................................................................................... 53 5.1 First Nations ................................................................................................................... 53 5.2 Public and Agencies ...................................................................................................... 54 5.3 Consultation Planning .................................................................................................... 54 6 SUSTAINABILITY ........................................................................................ 56 7 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND REGULATORY TRIGGERS ................................................................................................... 57 7.1.1 British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act ............................................. 57 7.1.2 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act ........................................................ 57 7.1.3 Key Provincial and Municipal Permits and Approvals ....................................... 58 7.1.4 Proposed Environmental Assessment Schedule .............................................. 60 April 2011 - i - Teck Coal Limited – Fording River Operations: The Swift Project 8 REFERENCES CITED ................................................................................. 61 TABLES Table 1: Fording River Stratigraphy .................................................................................. 7 Table 2: Representative Conceptual Mine Phases for the Swift Project ......................... 13 Table 3: Federally Designated Species That May Occur Within the Project Area .......... 43 Table 4: Preliminary Identification of Potential Project-Environment Interactions ........... 49 Table 5: Permits and Approvals Likely Required for the Swift Project ............................ 59 Table 6: Proposed Environmental Assessment Schedule .............................................. 60 FIGURES Figure 1: Project Location ................................................................................................. 3 Figure 2: Project Footprint and Existing Fording River Operations ................................... 4 Figure 3: Conceptual Mine Sequence Year 1 ................................................................. 14 Figure 4: Conceptual Mine Sequence Year 5 ................................................................. 15 Figure 5: Conceptual Mine Sequence Year 10 ............................................................... 16 Figure 6: Conceptual Mine Sequence Year 15 ............................................................... 17 Figure 7: Conceptual Mine Sequence Year 20 ............................................................... 18 Figure 8: Conceptual Mine Sequence Year 25 ............................................................... 19 Figure 9: Completion of Mining Year 30 Through Final Reclamation ............................. 20 Figure 10: Environmentally Sensitive Areas Local Scale ................................................ 40 Figure 11: Environmentally Sensitive Areas Regional Scale .......................................... 41 APPENDICES Appendix A Description of Existing Fording River Operations Process Plant Appendix B Scientific Names of Species Cited Appendix C British Columbia Conservation Data Centre Species and Ecosystems at Risk Information Appendix D Summary of the Swift Project Area Coal Tenures and Land Ownership Appendix E Review of Potential for Federal Triggers Appendix F Natural Resources Canada and the Explosives Act in the Context of Canadian Environmental Assessment Act Questionaire - ii - Teck Coal Limited – Fording River Operations: The Swift Project ACRONYMS AIA Archaeological Impact Assessment AOA Archaeological Overview Assessment ATV All-terrain vehicle BC British Columbia BCEAA British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act CCR Coarse coal reject CDC Conservation Data Centre CBM Coal Bed Methane CEAA Canadian Environmental Assessment Act COSEWIC Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in Canada CP Canadian Pacific DFO Fisheries and Oceans Canada EA Environmental Assessment EAC Environmental Assessment Certificate EAO Environmental Assessment Office e.g. for example EMS Environmental Management System EnCana EnCana Oil & Gas Partnership ERDZ Enhanced Resource Development Zone ESSF Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir ESSFdk Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir dry cool ESSFdkp Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir dry parkland ESSFdkw Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir dry woodland EVO Elkview