NDP Fisheries Critic Calls for Halt to Tulsequah Assessment
FYI.
Carrie Dann
For immediate release
January 12, 2005
HALT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR TULSEQUAH CHIEF MINE: STOFFER
Lower Sackville, N.S. – The assessment process for the Tulsequah Chief Mine project in British Columbia’s Taku River watershed should be halted, said NDP Fisheries Critic Peter Stoffer today. Stoffer is concerned that the integrity of the assessment process has been compromised.
“I urge Minister Regan to halt the screening assessment and refer the project to a federal Panel Review. The integrity of the process has been compromised and a mining lobbyist has had undue influence,” said Stoffer. “I can see no other explanation for why DFO officials reversed their original commitment to consider the key issue of environmental effects of extended use of the road after mine site closure.
The project proponent Redfern Resources plans construction of a 160 kilometre road into the heart of the Taku wilderness and operation of a mine near the salmon-rich Tulsequah River.
“Everyone knows once this road is built it will stay in use. The Project Approval Certificate issued by the province of British Columbia leaves the door open for the road to exist in perpetuity and Environment Canada has said there is no reason to expect this road to be decommissioned,” said Stoffer.
“This road is going to have considerable impacts on the environment and on traditional use by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation,” said Stoffer. “DFO officials agreed with that assessment until May of last year. A backroom meeting with company officials and a mining lobbyist appears to have changed all that.”
Stoffer also questions why DFO is unwilling to hold public meetings with residents on this issue. Repeated requests by residents of affected communities have been rejected. The Taku River Tlingit First Nation has asked for meetings with top DFO officials with no success.
For more information, please contact Peter Stoffer MP at (902) 865-2311.
David MacKinnon - Executive Director
Transboundary Watershed Alliance
302 Hawkins Street 867-668-5098
Whitehorse, Yukon 867-668-6637(fax)
Y1A 1X6
Carrie Dann
For immediate release
January 12, 2005
HALT ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOR TULSEQUAH CHIEF MINE: STOFFER
Lower Sackville, N.S. – The assessment process for the Tulsequah Chief Mine project in British Columbia’s Taku River watershed should be halted, said NDP Fisheries Critic Peter Stoffer today. Stoffer is concerned that the integrity of the assessment process has been compromised.
“I urge Minister Regan to halt the screening assessment and refer the project to a federal Panel Review. The integrity of the process has been compromised and a mining lobbyist has had undue influence,” said Stoffer. “I can see no other explanation for why DFO officials reversed their original commitment to consider the key issue of environmental effects of extended use of the road after mine site closure.
The project proponent Redfern Resources plans construction of a 160 kilometre road into the heart of the Taku wilderness and operation of a mine near the salmon-rich Tulsequah River.
“Everyone knows once this road is built it will stay in use. The Project Approval Certificate issued by the province of British Columbia leaves the door open for the road to exist in perpetuity and Environment Canada has said there is no reason to expect this road to be decommissioned,” said Stoffer.
“This road is going to have considerable impacts on the environment and on traditional use by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation,” said Stoffer. “DFO officials agreed with that assessment until May of last year. A backroom meeting with company officials and a mining lobbyist appears to have changed all that.”
Stoffer also questions why DFO is unwilling to hold public meetings with residents on this issue. Repeated requests by residents of affected communities have been rejected. The Taku River Tlingit First Nation has asked for meetings with top DFO officials with no success.
For more information, please contact Peter Stoffer MP at (902) 865-2311.
David MacKinnon - Executive Director
Transboundary Watershed Alliance
302 Hawkins Street 867-668-5098
Whitehorse, Yukon 867-668-6637(fax)
Y1A 1X6
Starmail - 14. Jan, 22:06
