New Gold looking into vibration complaints

NEWS — New Gold Inc. will look into complaints that blasting from the underground mine has cracked cement foundations and rattled cups in Cherry Creek, the company said today.

As reported Thursday in The Armchair Mayor News, Thompson-Nicola Regional District director Ronaye Elliott said she’s been hearing from residents about the problem for a couple of months. They say the problems didn’t exist before New Gold began blasting.

New Gold issued a statement today saying it welcomes feedback and will hold a meeting with Cherry Creek residents. According to one media report, the company said it has hired Engineering and Seismology Group to investigate after a complaint was filed about one home.

“The local residence was continuously monitored for three months in 2013. The results did not indicate any vibration levels that would cause structural damage.”

There was no indication of when the community meeting will be held. Elliott said New Gold is a good corporate citizen but needs to know that people are concerned.