Taseko Moving Forward on Two Projects
Monday, May 14, 2012 @ 3:57 AM
Prince George, B.C. – Taseko Mines has reached an agreement with the Tsay Ken Dene in relation to the development of its Aley Niobium project north of Mackenzie.( map at right shows location of Aley project, map courtesy Tseko Mines)
The agreement includes provisions for; employment and training opportunities for Tsay Keh Dene members, contracting and business opportunities for Tsay Keh Dene businesses, participation and capacity funding, environmental protection through the cooperative design and implementation of environmental management and monitoring programs, and a framework and commitment to develop a Comprehensive Cooperation and Benefit Agreement for the eventual development and operation of a mine.
Niobium is primarily used in the manufacturing of high strength, light-weight, and corrosion resistant steel. Niobium-based steel is found in turbines, aerospace and automobile machinery, and oil and gas pipelines, among other end-products.
President and CEO of Taseko, Russell Hallbauer, says Taseko management is “ committed to open and mutually beneficial relationships with the local communities where we operate. I would like to express my gratitude to Chief Dennis Izony and the Tsay Keh Dene for their hard work and commitment to complete this agreement. This agreement will serve as the foundation to strengthen our relationship as we continue to develop the world class Aley project.”
Meantime, the work has begun on the federal environmental assessment of the New Prosperity Gold copper mine to be located about 125 kms southwest of Williams Lake. That is the open pit gold-copper mine project which has been through the environmental assessment process once already, and failed as the environmental assessment that found it would have serious impacts on fish habitat, wildlife and the culture and Aboriginal rights of local First Nations.
The revised proposal is now up for discussion, with a three member panel being established and the terms of reference for the panel’s work being developed.
The New Democrats are not too happy with the terms of reference, as they say the new terms of reference “give less ability to assess adverse environmental risk and Aboriginal rights and title and seem designed to favour an approval for the previously rejected project.”
"The Conservative government is showing a blatant disrespect for Aboriginal rights and title,” says NDP First Nations critic, Jean Crowder (Nanaimo-Cowichan). “The Tsilhqot’in National Government must be guaranteed that all impacts of this mine on their traditional territory and their way of life are being considered, including impacts on their proven Aboriginal rights to hunt and trap throughout the proposed site for this project.”
Comments
I hear they are going to be hiring 150 electricians for the Mount Milligan mine construction in the next few weeks to try and get the project done in 10-months. Should be a lot of activity around that. Where they will get that many electricians for the short term is anyone’s guess.
They will import them on a short-term contract-thats normal for Canada.We dont need no stikin training-the world is our trade school,as always.
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