Gold Company Ignoring Shutdown

Gordon Hoekstra

www.vancouversun.ca July 31, 2015

Gold company has been ignoring province’s mine shutdown orderPhoto: Ian McAllister

B.C.’s chief mines inspector on Thursday warned Banks Island Gold to stop operating their Yellow Giant mine in northwestern B.C. as ordered.

The small mine operator has been ignoring a July 15 order from the B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines to shut down its processing plant and underground operation on Banks Island, 120 kilometres south of Prince Rupert.

“Generally we don’t have this level of confusion and level of non-compliance. It worries me, but we are dealing with it as strongly as I can within my statutory authority, and I am going to make sure they are compliant,” Al Hoffman, the chief mines inspector, said in an interview.

The ministry could seek a court injunction or a prosecution under the Mines Act if needed, said Hoffman.

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