ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - Residents from Fort Liard recently received an update from Jayhawk Frontier Exploration Ltd. on the company's efforts (in partnership with the Acho Dene Koe First Nation) to build a crushing facility and process plant to handle frac sand the company discovered near the community.

Frac sand is a quartz arenite used in the drilling of oil wells.

"(Jayhawk) did a community meeting towards the end of April," said Christine Boyd, the town's economic development officer.

"They found a frac sand deposit near Fisherman Lake. They're supposed to be starting up this fall."

According to Jayhawk's website, "It is currently estimated construction will require nine months with the plant on-line producing final product by late 2011 with an initial capacity of 250,000 tonnes a year."

Jayhawk said the operation will create an unspecified number of jobs for residents, added Boyd.

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