Westar gets okay for Falcon bet

Westar Mining has been given Stage 1 approval-in-principle for the proposed Falcon development at its Greenhills coal project in B.C.’s Elk Valley.

The announcement was made jointly by Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Jack Davis and Environment Minister Bruce Strachan, chairman of the environment and land use committee of the B.C. cabinet.

The project involves mining 1.9 million tonnes of raw coal over the next three years and construction of a waste dump at the site, about eight kilometres northeast of Elkford.

“This approval is based on a concern for the long-term viability of the mine under difficult economic conditions and the security of the 500 workers employed there,” said Mr Davis.