Detour Gold received the federal stamp of approval for its namesake gold project, 180 kilometres northeast of Cochrane.
The company announced Dec. 22 that its environmental assessment of proposed open pit and mill operation was approved by the federal Environmental Minister Peter Kent.
The project had already received provincial approvals last year and construction is well underway in preparation for an early 2013 start of gold production.
In a statement, the company said the project design was improved after meeting with area communities and Aboriginal groups during the environmental assessment process.
Mine operations are estimated to last 20 years and will put 1,500 people to work during construction with 500 employed during production. The company said the development will generate more than $14 billion of GDP benefit in the Cochrane region.
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