Feasibility Study and Technical Report - Pretivm

5.2 CLIMATE AND PHYSIOGRAPHYThe climate is typical of northwestern BC with cool, wet summers, and relativelymoderate but wet winters. Annual temperatures range from +20°C to -20°C.Precipitation is high with heavy snowfall accumulations ranging from 10 to 15 m athigher elevations and 2 to 3 m along the lower river valleys. Snow packs cover the higherelevations from October to May. The optimum field season is from late June to mid-October.5.2.1 VEGETATIONThe tree line is at an elevation of approximately 1,200 m. Sparse fir, spruce, and aldergrow along the valley bottoms with only scrub alpine spruce, juniper, alpine grass, moss,and heather covering the steep valley walls. The Property, at an elevation above1,300 m, has only sparse mosses along drainages. Rocky glacial moraine and polishedglacial-striated outcrops dominate the terrain above tree line.5.3 INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOCAL RESOURCESThe exploration access road from Highway 37 is complete and in use (Figure 5.1).There are no local resources other than abundant water for any drilling work. Thenearest infrastructure is the town of Stewart, approximately 65 km to the south, whichhas a minimum of supplies and personnel. The towns of Terrace and Smithers are alsolocated in the same general region as the Property. Both are directly accessible by dailyair service from Vancouver.The nearest railway is the Canadian National Railway Yellowhead route, which is locatedapproximately 220 km to the southeast. This line runs east-west and terminates at thedeep water port of Prince Rupert on the west coast of BC.Stewart, BC, the most northerly ice-free shipping port in North America, is accessible tostore and ship concentrates. At the time of this report, the Wolverine and Huckleberrymines are shipping material via this terminal.A high-voltage, 138 kV power line currently services Stewart, BC, and has sufficientcapacity to provide power to the Project. Also, a high-voltage power line is currently beingconstructed that runs parallel to Highway 37 (www.highway37.com). The plan calls forthe new 287 kV line to extend from the community of Terrace to the beginning of theGalore Creek access road at Bob Quinn Lake, providing the Property access to the BCHydro electric grid (Figure 5.2). The final capacity of this transmission line has yet to bedetermined and may be increased due to demand.Pretium Resources Inc. 5-3 1291990200-REP-R0012-02Feasibility Study and Technical Report on the BrucejackProject, Stewart, BC