Graymont’s proposed limestone quarry and plant in Giscome just northeast of Prince George continues to build momentum.
Environmental Health and Safety Manager Rob Beleutz says they achieved an environmental certificate from the province last December and are in the review process of obtaining the necessary permits to be operational.
Once all the smoke clears, Beleutz explains what the limestone will be used for. “The limestone is cooked to produce lime which will be used locally for production of pulp and paper manufactured glass, water treatment and also for acid rock drainage and agricultural uses.”
The plant would also create no shortage of jobs. “Through construction, about 60 contract type works, during the operational side, we would look at probably about six to 10 seasonal jobs in the quarry and then roughly 15 full-time at the plant,” added Beleutz.
If the project receives the permits, construction could begin in 2019 or 2020 with the facility opening shortly after that.
Like any major project that’s in the process of getting off the ground, any potential environmental issues need to be met head-on before completion.
However, Beleutz believes all of those concerns surrounding the crushing of the limestone have already been alleviated.
“We’ve adapted an overland conveyor to remove truck traffic so we have no hauling of stone. We’ve located the plant next to the CN mainline so we can go rail out of the facility, any crushing activity will be back at quarry minimizing the activity at the plant – at night we are going to be using timers on our lights and directional lighting.”
The group does not expect the plant to have any impact on Giscome Elementary School.
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