The invitation is part of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, adopted last year to allow for input on potential environmental impacts of operation.

Written comments must be submitted by April 4 to the CEA’s Vancouver office.

Under CEAA 2012, the Environment Minister can substitute the environmental assessment process of another jurisdiction for the process that would otherwise be conducted by the agency.

That individual, Peter Kent, must approve the substitution requests if he is satisfied that the conditions for substitution under CEAA 2012 are met and if he is of the opinion that the BC process would be an appropriate substitute for an environmental assessment by the agency.

Xstrata Coal Canada wants to develop and operate Sukunka, an integrated surface and underground metallurgical coal mine about 55km south of Chetwynd and 40km west of Tumbler Ridge in northeast British Columbia.

The project, if realized, would produce 1.5-2.5 million tonnes per year initially and ramp up to 6Mtpa when the underground mining portion started.

Sukunka’s mine life is expected to exceed 20 years.

The Carbon Creek metallurgical project is being proposed by Cardero Coal.

Cardero wants to develop and operate the open pit metallurgical operation about 60km northwest of Chetwynd and 40km west of Hudson's Hope in northeast British Columbia.

That project, if it comes to pass, will include open pit surface mining followed by combined open pit and underground mining.

The mine’s production rate would be 4.1Mtpa over a mine life of 20 years.