METALINE FALLS, Washington Teck Cominco American, a subsidiary of Vancouver's TECK COMINCO, is reopening Pend Oreille zinc mine in this small community. The mine is only 80 km from the Trail metallurgical facility in southern British Columbia.
Teck Cominco acquired 100% of the property in 1996. The company has expanded reserves since that time, estimating they now total 5.7 million tonnes grading 7.7% Zn and 1.4% Pb. Room and pillar mining has been selected to produce 2,000 tonnes/day. The plant will have a capacity of 80,000 tonnes of 60%-Zn concentrate annually. More details are available at www.teckcominco.com.
According to reports from Associated Press, the local residents welcome the 140 jobs in the small town of Metaline Falls. Teck Cominco's "attention to environmental details and public relations" is the reason it has earned the trust of local communities.
The company deserves a pat on the back for its consultative approach and open communications which brought the local residents on-side for the mine reopening. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency still wants jurisdiction over the metallurgical plant in Trail. (See our New News item of Dec. 17, 2003.)
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