Kicking the Dead Horse of Kemess North

Friday, March 07, 2008 02:50 PM

Prince George, B.C. - Although Northgate Minerals has already written off the Kemess North expansion project, the Province and Federal government’s have announced today they are accepting the report of the Joint review panel and will not allow the project to go ahead as was proposed.

The federal and provincial governments took the decision after considering the panel’s 246-page report. The panel was mandated in May 2005 by the federal Environment Minister and the B.C. Minister of Sustainable Resource Management to assess the environmental effects of the proposed Kemess North project, and delivered its report on Sept. 17, 2007.

Northgate Minerals Corporation, the project’s proponent, had proposed to expand its existing Kemess South copper and gold mine to include a new open pit mine, modification of the existing mill that processes ore from the Kemess South mine, and related infrastructure. Northgate’s proposal included putting more than 700 million tonnes of sulphide tailings and waste rock from the new mine in nearby Duncan (Amazay) Lake.

The joint panel concluded the Kemess North project , as proposed, would not be in the public interest and that the benefits provided by the project are outweighed by the risks of significant adverse environmental, social and cultural effects.

At the time, the CEO of Northgate said the it was impossible to argue science with those who say they talk to bears.

While there is nothing stopping Northgate from putting together a different plan, that is not about to happen. The company has made it clear that Kemess North is a dead issue, and has written it off in its annual report. Northgate Minerals has since turned its attention to Australia where it has purchased the Perserverance mining company which has two operating mines.

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Posted on Friday, March 07, 2008 02:50 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: giterdun on March 7 2008 4:18 PM

"The joint panel concluded that the Kemess North project would not be in the public interest..." I guess the fact that people have to eat and survive isn't in the public interest either. Most of the people that are protesting projects in B.C. owe there very survival to the companies and workers that man these projects and pay taxes to support the economy. It's time these idiots woke up and realized who is supporting them. Too many TAKERS and not enough givers. We can't survive with all of these roadblocks and protests.

Posted by: getajob on March 7 2008 4:24 PM

so is this the result from Indians protesting the project? I am not up to speed on what group shut this one down.

Posted by: giterdun on March 7 2008 4:36 PM

getajob. Not Indians... First Nations and Dumb Polititions.

Posted by: getajob on March 7 2008 5:10 PM

Fisrt what? Oh that group done this one in to.Unreal..bunch of crap,,Man everytime i turn on news or read a paper that group either have a hand out, or a blockade up...

Posted by: mountainjoe on March 7 2008 6:36 PM

hmmmm......

the forest industry is disintegrating as we speak, due to a US economy which has abandoned development to finance a war and the consequences are seen every day in the all too regular announcements of curtailments or outright closures

mining has always been a part of the north american economy since 1492 (well slightly after that) and has improved over time.... where in north america has the mining industry left a moonscape or extinguished species?.... I would suggest not too many examples... enough of the crap environmentalists have to say... people need to eat and live, time for the eco-bureaucracy to get out of the way and let industry grow...

without the resource sector, the government is not able to fund all of the 2010 comittments like the $50 MILLION contribution the people of bc (Yes you and me in PG) made to building a new art gallery in Vancouver the premier made yesterday!

it's time govenment realized we are a resource country and we need development of our resources with REASONABLE controls to sustain our way of life, without that not even mega wastes like the olympics are possiblle, in fact we are likely to become a 3rd world nation

Posted by: Moses on March 7 2008 7:18 PM

Maybe the project could be brought back if the proponent (Northgate) used traditional First Nations methods of mining and ore concentration.

Posted by: uncleM on March 7 2008 9:08 PM

Moses, what traditional First Nations methods are you talking about? KN is a low grade deposit. It's not economical with any other (more expensive) waste disposal plans.

Given the terrible shape of the forest industry in BC, I think the governments should step in and provide tax incentives to Northgate and encourage them to consider an alternative waste disposal plan. The mine may be marginally profitable with the right amount of incentives. This will save the 400 jobs at the Kemess mine, help Northern BC through the downturn in forest industry while respecting the First Nation people's stand on Duncan Lake. Everyone wins.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 7 2008 9:15 PM

I never agreed with dumping tailings in a lake...any lake,but this actually is an enviromental issue and really had very little to do with first nations who protested the project.
Even though they would like to take credit for it.
But on the other hand,even if Northgate trucked the tailings to the other side of the world,first nations STILL would have been against it!
We will now see how they react to the Mt.Milligan project which has none of the Kemess problems and is almost ready to go.
So what will our first nations do now?Creat some problems where there isn't any instead of taking advantage of the jobs that will be available?
This will also show just what our provincial government is REALLY all about!

Posted by: uncleM on March 7 2008 9:36 PM

I am with you, Andyfreeze. It's about control, isn't it? First Nation people want to show they are the boss. The resource industry in BC is doomed!

Posted by: tinyapplecork on March 8 2008 12:26 AM

Whoa there! Facts before you border on racism. This report was an extensive environmental assessment. This project, the dam and the oil and gas exploration in the northeast corner of BC does have significant impacts on our environment. We need to BALANCE the effects. The mountain sheep and goats are an endangered species.

I am not against the industry. We have technologies to deal with the impacts. BUT we also have a government who continues to drag its feet on dealing fairly with the aboriginal peoples. The provincial and federal govts disregarded legal treaties. Their 200 year old mess is what causes some...SOME..of the economic stagnation. Not because of the first nations...but because of our favourite topic: the incompetence of our government!!

So I am glad that at least one branch of our system is working. For one instance anyway.

(MSN ENCARTA has all the treaty history if you're ready for a shocking education)

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 8 2008 8:30 PM

First Nation, Third World Nation, Second Class Citizen.

How come all the free loaders get a number? How come us white trash don't get One Two?

Mixing social sciences and math doesn't work. Maybe that's what is making a mess out of things, the white trash just can't make enough money to satisfy the soft sciences?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 9 2008 9:37 AM

This is not about treaty issues OR racism tinyapplecork!
It is about living in the real world where nobody survives without helping themselves do just that.
No one has a right to unlimited handouts as opposed to earning your own way.I happen to know some hardworking first nations people,and guess what?
They don't agree with this either!
They figured out that living of the land is not an option anymore.
They also figured out that nobody gets all the marbles,especially without getting out there and working for them!

Posted by: getajob on March 9 2008 5:32 PM

Hmm here we go...don't dare voice an open though or raise a reasonable argument you will have them saying you are a racist...

Posted by: Big-Wayne on March 10 2008 9:30 AM

Regardless of blaming 1 group of people over another there were suppossed to be 4 groups involved- 1st Nations, Northgate Minerals & the Provincial & Federal governments (meaning us) the main issue is how long it took to get a decision made May 2005 to March 2008 way to long for any real out comes only goes to stop all mineral developement in the province.