Participant funding available for Michel Coal Project

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Public participation is needed for an assessment of a mine project near Sparwood.

The Michel Coal Project is undergoing a federal environmental assessment and the public is invited to submit questions or suggestions regarding the project.

Sparwood mayor David Wilks says the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada is providing funding for public participation through it’s participant funding program.

“Groups or individuals that wish to provide information with regards to this coal project, and do not have the financial means to do that,” Wilks says. “Are provided a grant or funding through the federal government for this project, to allow them to submit their concerns or questions.”

He says when the mine opens it will create 500 to 700 jobs over the next 25 years.

“This mine is located just towards where Coal Mountain was and the coal is going to be there,” he says. “As long as it’s done in an environmentally safe way, which we believe it will be, we look forward to Michel Creek Coal being moved forward. It’s also going with North Coal, so we’re looking forward to it.”