Williams Lake B.C.- Today, new public hearings on the new application by Taseko Mines for the proposed New Prosperity Mine will get underway in Williams Lake.

 

This is a revised application for the gold/copper mine.  The first  application was approved by  the Provincial  government, but the Federal government said no because of concerns of negative impact on Fish (Biny) Lake.   Taseko says the new design saves Fish Lake. “We are spending an additional $300 million dollars to preserve Fish Lake” says Taseko Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Brian Battison .   He says it was a myth that Taseko planned to use Fish Lake as a tailings pond, “We were always going to build a tailings facility, but this tailings facility ( in the new proposal) will be two kilometers upstream from Fish Lake, rather than right beside. That allows for preservation of the lake and the Rainbow Trout population in the lake.”

 

Battison says the new application addresses all the concerns outlined in the Federal rejection of the project the first time around, and there is significant support from communities in the area with the City Councils’ of Williams Lake, Hundred Mile and Quesnel, along with the Regional District, all passing resolutions in support of New Prosperity.

 

But those Councils don’t speak for First Nations.

 

He says although  there has been a strong public rejection of the project by some First Nations leaders, not all share that view. “There is certainly support within individual First Nations, and we hear that regularly. Former Chief Erwin Charlieboy for example, he was the head of the Tsilhqot’in National Government for 20 years, he in fact was instrumental in creating the TNG. He was very much opposed to the first project, and now he is very much in favour of the project for two reasons. One, we did what we were asked to do, we saved Fish Lake, and two, there are very few, if any, opportunities for First Nations youth out in those western communities, they need the opportunities associated with this mine. For those reasons there is, I believe, and he believes, there is quite a bit of support within First Nations communities. That is not true of the two primary First Nations leaders who have taken a position of being opposed, but there is support within those communities.”

 

 Late last month, representatives of the First Nations Leadership Council and the Tsilhqot’in Nation  issued a public rejection of the revised project saying it is the wrong project, in the wrong place.  “This proposed mine is within the Tsilhqot’in claim area and has already been denied once by the Minister of Environment. This is precedent setting and we will not back down,” said Chief Joe Alphonse, Tribal Chairman of the Tsilhqot’in National Government.

 

According to Taseko’s website, New Prosperity, which has a proposed life of 20 years, could pump billions of dollars into the economies of B.C. and Canada, provide 700 jobs during the two year construction period, and 550 jobs at the mine site over its lifespan. That does not take into account the indirect jobs that would also be created.

 

The hearings that start today, are expected to take about 30 days to complete. Then the panel will have 70 days to complete it’s report and submit it to the Federal Government. From there, it could be another 120 days for a final decision.   So if each step in the process goes the maximum time allotted, a decision could come in early March. Battison is hoping for a positive decision “We remain optimistic” says Battison, “We have a high degree of confidence in our plan and the commitment to preserve Fish Lake.”