Taseko Disappointed in Prosperity Decision
By 250 News
Wednesday, November 03, 2010 04:00 AM
Williams Lake, B.C.- The decision of the Federal Government to deny permits for the Prosperity Mine project “as proposed” has garnered mixed reaction.
Taseko, the company behind the proposal says once the company has had the opportunity to fully evaluate and understand the process whereby the Federal Government came to that conclusion, which was contrary to the Provincial Government decision, it will be in a better position to evaluate its options.
Russell Hallbauer, President and CEO of Taseko, says his team is disappointed, but is not ready to walk away from the project "We are extremely disappointed by this decision, not only for our shareholders but for the communities that were relying on the development of Prosperity to help offset the economic situation in the Cariboo-Chilcotin. Our next steps will be discussions with both the Federal and Provincial Government's to look at options so that this mining project can move forward and meet the criteria that the Federal Government deem appropriate."
The Federal Government noted several issues with the proposal:
FISH AND FISH HABITAT
_ the Project would result in a significant adverse effect on fish and fish habitat in the Teztan Yeqox (Fish Creek) watershed;
CUMULATIVE EFFECTS
_ the Project, together with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future forestry activities in the area, would result in a significant adverse cumulative effect on the South Chilcotin grizzly bear population but would not result in a significant adverse
cumulative effect on deer, moose, and other wildlife;
_ the Project, in combination with an extended mine life proposal would further increase the likelihood of failure of the fish and fish habitat compensation plan and thus result in a significant adverse cumulative effect on fish and fish habitat;
LAND AND RESOURCE USES
_ the proposed mine site would result in a locally significant adverse effect on the users of the meadows within the Teztan Yeqox (Fish Creek) watershed due to the loss of grazing lands;
_ the Project would not result in a significant adverse effect on trapping in the region, but would result in a significant adverse effect on the Xeni Gwet’in (Nemiah Band)/Sonny Lulua trapline that would be most affected by the mine site footprint;
_ the Project would not result in a significant adverse effect on tourism and recreation in the region, but would result in a significant adverse effect on Taseko Lake Outfitters tourism business;
NAVIGATION
_ the Project would result in a significant adverse effect on navigation;
CURRENT USE OF LANDS AND RESOURCES FOR TRADITIONAL PURPOSES
_ the Project would have a significant adverse effect on the Tsilhqot’in Nation regarding their current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes and on cultural heritage resources;
_ the Project would not result in significant adverse effects on the Secwepemc Nation’s current use of land and resources for traditional purposes and on cultural heritage;
ABORIGINAL RIGHTS AND TITLE
_ the Project would result in a significant adverse effect on established Tsilhqot’in Aboriginal rights as defined in the William case;
_ the Project would result in a significant adverse effect on the potential Tsilhqot’in Aboriginal right to fish in Teztan Biny (Fish Lake);
_ the Project would result in a significant adverse effect on Tsilhqot’in Aboriginal title that could be granted;
_ provided the planned mitigation to avoid construction in sensitive locations would be applied in cooperation with the Secwepemc, the Project would not result in a significant adverse effect on established or potential Secwepemc rights;
_ depending on the size of the land settlement through the treaty process, the Project may result in a significant adverse effect on any such title that could be granted to the Esketemc (Alkali Lake Band) and the Stswecem'c/Xgat’tem (Canoe Creek Band);
CAPACITY OF RENEWABLE RESOURCES
_ the Project would result in the inability of the fisheries resource in the Teztan Yeqox (Fish Creek) watershed and the South Chilcotin grizzly bear population to meet the needs of present and future generations;
First Nations are celebrating the decision, saying the Federal government has honoured its Constitutional duty to protect First Nations rights and its responsibility to protect the environment.
The Provincial Minister of Forest, Mines and Lands, Pat Bell, says he will be trying to arrange a meeting with the Federal Ministry in Ottawa once he returns from China.
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Posted by: Born in BC on November 3 2010 5:20 AM
Decision makers based thousands of miles away have decided that you arent allowed to utilize certain public resources to create jobs.
By the way we might need a little more than the estimated $115 billion in transfer payments we origionally budgeted.
Sincerly
Ontario, the Maritimes and off course Quebec
Right decision or not it doesnt seem appropriate for a government based thousands of miles away to tell us what to do WHILE AT THE SAME TIME demanding billions to fund transfer payments. Time for a change. The West pays the bills, the West should be calling the shots. What we have right now is the exact opposite.