TERRACE STANDARD Business Review Cassiar mine getting new life with asbestos THE FORMER Cassiar mine is retuming to life with . the extraction of asbestos . fibre from long-disused tail- ings. : ‘We're producing some malerial this winter and - hope to resume both winter and summer production in. 2000,’ Clifford Frame, chairman and president of Minroc Mines, said from Toronto, Through wet process tech- nology, the company is producing about 1,000 tonnes of magnesium sili- cate (asbestos) fibre per month, but hopes to raise that figure to 65,000 tonnes # year by 2000. Fibre reserves are worth between $500 million and $700 mil- lion and can be used for cement-based building pipes. Long-term plans include a preliminary feasibility study of the production of mag- nesium metal at Cassiar. Currently, only 15 people live at the mine site. The number could mear 100 within two — years, said Frame, though most em- ployees may live in Watson Lake or Dease Lake. Frame expects ‘‘a fair number’? of indirect jobs to be created. through trucking asbestos to Vancouver and transporting materials needed for the taine’s operation. The Cassiar mine closed in 1992 after 38 years of op-— eration, when a production shift from open-pit to un- derground methods proved unprofitable and the compa- hy ‘operating it became in- solvent. Minroc has an agrecment with a Japanese company, Kakiuchi, to distribute the fibre in Asia. Asbestos fibre is used principally to strengthen ce- ‘ment pipes and make them water-resistant in humid climates, Such pipes are pence bs wo RKERS at the Bell Pole site were pouring « foun- dations last week for the new highway maintenance yard that's to replace the present Kenny St. yard. Building gets a boost SEPTEMBER saw a construction. surge — at least by 1998 standards —- to $1.58 million in building permits issued by the City of Terrace. It was the best month so far this year — better than July and August combined. Three house starts, and several garages, renovations an additions boosted the residential construction numbers. But the real spike came from the $855,000 construction of a new highways maintenance yard now underway at the Bell Pole properly. September's total was also more than triple what was re- corded in September, 1997 — when uncertainty over Skeena Cellulose peaked. The year-to-date total for 1998 is still a dismal $7 mil- lion. That’s way down from $18 million to the same point in 1997 and $22 million to the same point in 1996. Bankers go north TORONTO-DOMINION Bank officials are headed up to Dease Lake this week for the official opening of a small service branch in that town on Hwy37 North. It’s the first time the town has had the services of a bank. It began operating in the summer with one employee at the provincial government agent’s office in Dease Lake. The branch offers basic cash withdrawal and deposits using an automated machine, says Craig Cromie, the T-D’s northem regional manager. ‘We've had a very good response so far,’” sald Cromie. “We were open five and a half hours a day and have ex- panded that to six hours,” The T-D views its limited service as the opening to eventual full-fledged services using telephone and internet banking. “‘We're seeing some very good business opportunities resulting from what we’ve done,'’ said Cromie. we ESRR-Goy borin utilized in parts of the southern U.S., South Africa, Africa and the Middle East, Frame said the use of wet process technology can con- tinue when the mill is winterized. He said the tech- nology has been tried for decades in Quebec, South Africa and Zimbabwe, but has only recently been per- fected. Frame called the white as- bestos fibre, also known as chrysotile, **relatively safe,” adding that any dusty substance can cause prob- lems if precautions aren’t taken. Health risks have been associated with other varieties of asbestos, ac- cording to the company, . Minroc has no immediate plans to use underground as- bestos reserves at the mine, Frame said. Frame formerly headed the ill-fated Westray coal mine in Nova Scotia. KITIMAT AND AREA HEALTH COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Orthopedic Services Until further notice any former or currentorthopedic patient should contact their family physician for the appropriate followup regarding their needs. The Kitimat and Area Health Council is currently recruiting a replacament surgeon. Linda Coles Chief Executive Otficer www.canadiantire.com Or Email us at www.cantire.terrace@osg.net SAFEWAY www.safeway.com TERRACi TERRA anand coh istor www.terraceautomall.com Judy’s Sewing Corner Authorized Pfaff Dealer Machine Sales, Accessories & Repairs Zens oe Chiidren & Adult Beginners www.terracebuilders.com TER TER meh BAS terrace.automall@osg.net Sewing Lessons Available! For more information Phone/Fax 635-8171 4705 Gair Avenue, Terrace The Terrace Standard STAN DARD standard@kearmode.net ene oe terracebuilders@osg.net Your website/email address. could be here! Contact us at 638-7283 }