Vancouver-based First Mining on Tuesday announced a milestone for the Springpole gold project, receiving a positive conformity determination from the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC).
This follows the submission of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) on November 4.
The conformity determination confirms that the work completed by First Mining meets the federal EIS guidelines set out by the IAAC, affirming that the company has complied with the necessary regulatory requirements. The determination paves the way for the next phase of the project’s regulatory review, as the technical review period for the final EIS continues without delay.
“Having received the outcome within 30 days of the final EIS being submitted demonstrates the diligence with which we have approached the assessment work and builds confidence in the regulatory process timelines for the project,” commented First Mining CEO Dan Wilton.
With the conformity determination in hand, the project now enters the technical review phase. During this phase, First Mining will work closely with all stakeholders to address any questions or comments that arise. The review process is expected to conclude by the fourth quarter of 2025.
The Springpole project, located in Ontario, is one of the largest undeveloped openpit gold projects in North America. The project has proven and probable reserves of 3.8-million ounces of gold and 20.5-million ounces of silver. First Mining is proposing an openpit mine, producing about 300 000 oz/y of gold.