First Coal delays linked to court ruling halts exploration plans
The FCC faces an unavoidable delay after a court ruling blocking permits for a Summer advanced exploration program employing up to 55 people. Doug Smith, FCC president, says a test mining plan using special underground equipment aimed to reduce environmental impact may proceed only after permitted. The company has invested 65 million dollars in equipment and caribou protection work and planned a 250 million dollar mine northeast of Chetwynd expected to create hundreds of construction jobs and 450 full time positions.