Mining company teams up with First Nation for new winter road

AD RING OF FIRE, Ont. -- One of the players still active in this Far North region is now teaming up with Marten Falls First Nation to help build a new winter road.

Officials with Noront Resources hope to build its Eagle's Nest nickel mine, and the company also owns the rights to some of the chromite deposits in the rich mining area.

Chief Operating Officer Paul Semple says they've recently acquired a mining camp from Cliffs Natural Resources, which halted its mining activity last year.

The company is now waiting for an environmental assessment to begin, and for permits to be approved.

In the meantime, Semple says Noront is looking to carry out some pre-construction activity, including a new winter road from Marten Falls to the mine site.

Semple adds that if it's approved, the construction on the road would begin this winter. But there's still no set timeline for constructing a permanent route to the Ring of Fire, or opening a mine there.