SRRAC Formally Requests Environmental Assessment for Record Ridge Mine
By Contributor
The Save Record Ridge Action Committee (SRRAC) has formally requested that BC’s Minister of Environment and Parks designate the proposed Record Ridge magnesium mine for a full Environmental Assessment (EA) under Section 11 of the BC Environmental Assessment Act.
This move comes in direct response to recent decisions by the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals (MCM) and the Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) that could allow the mine to proceed without the rigorous review typically required for projects of this nature.
In August 2024, the EAO determined that the Record Ridge project met the criteria for an Environmental Assessment, based in large part on SRRAC’s evidence that the mine is a mineral mine, not a quarry as claimed by the proponent, West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources. However, in September 2024, the company amended its application to fall just below the EA threshold—without making any meaningful changes to the mine plan.
“Based on SRRAC’s review of the September 2024 amendment, we concluded the project’s production capacity clearly continues to exceed the threshold for environmental assessment,” said Elissa Ferguson, SRRAC spokesperson.
SRRAC has since submitted detailed evidence to both MCM and the EAO demonstrating that the mine’s production capacity remains essentially unchanged and still exceeds the threshold for automatic review. While MCM’s response to SRRAC’s submission is that it is relying on the company’s stated “intended” production rate—a term not found in BC’s Reviewable Projects Regulation—the EAO has stated it lacks legal authority to make a binding decision under those circumstances.
Given these developments, SRRAC has submitted a formal request for an Environmental Assessment. The submission asserts that the Record Ridge project remains automatically reviewable based on its production capacity, which has not materially changed from the previous version. It also presents new evidence that the project is part of a larger mine development, as indicated by public statements from the company outlining broader plans for the site. Should the EAO decline to classify the project as automatically reviewable based on these criteria, SRRAC is urging the Minister of Environment and Parks to designate the mine for a full EA due to its likely impacts and the strong public interest in ensuring thorough and independent oversight.
“The risks this project poses to water quality, air quality, human health, wildlife, and the local economy are too significant to ignore and require appropriate assessment,” said Ferguson. “An Environmental Assessment is the only process that can properly evaluate these impacts before any permits are issued.”
SRRAC also highlights that the mine application still lacks critical baseline data, including adequate assessments for metal leaching and acid rock drainage, asbestos, surface and groundwater, and meteorological conditions. These gaps were identified in SRRAC’s recent Addendum to the permitting process submitted in March 2025.
“We are confident the BC government will not allow the proponent to circumvent the Environmental Assessment process,” added Ferguson. “SRRAC firmly believes the project meets the legal and ethical threshold for a full review.”
For more information or to read the full Section 11 designation request, please click here.
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