The Fording River Extension Project (FRX) is a proposed extension of Teck’s existing Fording River steelmaking coal mine located in the East Kootenay region in southeastern British Columbia. The Project represents an opportunity to extend the lifespan of Fording River and maintain the jobs and economic benefits generated by the operation in a socially and environmentally responsible manner.

The Fording River Extension Project will provide a new source of mineable steelmaking coal and is located immediately south of the current mining area at Fording River Operations. Within the next few years, less economically mineable coal will be available from current operating areas at Fording River Operations. Over time, Teck anticipates that all steelmaking coal for Fording River Operations would come from FRX.

The extension of mining will allow for continued social and economic contributions to the local and regional economies, extending the life of Fording River Operations by several decades.

Learn more about the Project

Project Location

The Fording River Extension Project is located adjacent and to the south of Teck’s existing Fording River Operations. By making use of existing equipment and infrastructure at Fording River, the Project will minimize the footprint of the new activities.

Project Timeline

The Fording River Extension Project is currently in the design stage, during which time Teck is defining specific aspects of the Project using the feedback gathered from Indigenous Peoples, local communities and governments..

Regulatory Process

The Fording River Extension Project is required to undergo an environmental assessment under the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Act. The environmental assessment process will provide a comprehensive evaluation of the range of potential effects, including positive effects, that may occur over the life of the Project, including environmental, economic, social, cultural, and health effects.

The British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (BC EAO) oversees the environmental assessment process in British Columbia. In April 2020, Teck initiated the early engagement phase of the environmental assessment process with the submission of the Project’s Initial Project Description and  Early Engagement Plan to the BC EAO. During this phase, there was an opportunity for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, government agencies and regulators, and others to learn about the Project, engage with Teck and the BC EAO, and help identify potential interests and concerns early on. The BC EAO issued a Summary of Engagement in July 2020.

BC EPIC Project Registry – Fording River Extension Project

In August 2020, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada announced his decision to designate FRX into the federal assessment process under the Impact Assessment Act. Based on this decision, FRX is expected to be subject to federal review that will focus on areas of federal interest. An Initial Project Description and Project Description Summary were submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) in October 2020, and were the basis of a public comment period. The Summary of Issues, which summarizes comments received during the public comment period, was released by the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada in November 2020. Teck is working with the BC EAO and the IAAC to ensure a coordinated provincial and federal review process.

Learn more about the provincial regulatory process for Fording River Extension Project 

Canadian Impact Assessment Registry – Fording River Extension Project 

Provincial environmental assessment process

As the Fording River Extension Project progresses through the regulatory review process, we will be providing opportunities to both learn more about the Project and for you to provide feedback. Your input helps us understand what topics are important to you.

You can submit your comments anytime through:

• online form at Teck.com/ElkValley
• email at feedbackteckcoal@teck.com, or
• phone at 1.855.806.6854.

Feedback can be anonymous. If you leave your contact details, we will respond directly to you.