Mining firm quizzed on assessment claims NOVEMBER 15, 2013 Peter James, Citizen Staff [email protected] The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is asking Taseko for more information about the mining companys claims that an incorrect design was used during the environmental review process for the proposed New Prosperity copper and gold mine. In an email dated Wednesday, agency vice-president of operations Yves Leboeuf asked the company and its legal team to specifically identify the mistakes Taseko believes Natural Resources Canada made by providing explicit references to the application and documents submitted to the review panel. The email also asks the company to kindly explain how and why Taseko was, or would have been, prevented from raising its concerns about any differences in the models used by Taseko and by [Natural Resources Canada] through submissions to, and testimony before, the review panel itself as part of the review panel process. On Oct. 31, a three-member panel that examined the potential environmental effects of building an open-pit copper and gold mine near Fish Lake, about 125 kilometres south of Williams Lake, determined that it would have significant adverse effects on fish and fish habitat. In its report, the panel members said they relied primarily on evidence provided by Natural Resources Canada in reaching their conclusions. Taseko vice-president Brian Battison immediately said the report was wrong and the following week the company issued a statement pointing to the design it believes Natural Resources Canada used to determine the rate of tailings seepage. Taskeo said the government department failed to take into account a soil liner the company included in its application and which the company believes would reduce the seepage rate and make the concerns about fish and fish habitat moot. Environmental and First Nations groups opposing the mine development believe the panels findings are correct. Natural Resources Canada has not commented on if it believes a proper mine design was used when it made its submission to the panel. In his email, Leboeuf said he would like the company to reply the concerns he outlined by Friday. This is the second time Taseko has tried to get environmental approval for a mine at the site. An unfavourable environmental review in 2010 led to the federal government to deny a certificate, but invite the company to reapply with a modified proposal. The current environmental assessment is now in front of federal Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq. She must make a determination of whether or not the mine will have a significant environmental impact within the next four months. If the federal government gives the project a green light, the provincial government must then begin proceedings to amend the approval it gave the project in 2010 to take into account the new design. princegeorgecitizen/article/20131115/PRINCEGEORGE0101/311159989/-1/princegeorge0101/mining-firm-quizzed-on-assessment-claims
Posted on: Tue, 19 Nov 2013 03:53:05 +0000
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