Taseko Mines Ltd. (TSX: TKO): BC's New Prosperity Mine Inches Forward

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BC’s New Prosperity Inches Forward
Taseko’s Federal Review Could Take A Year
~ By Greg Klein - November 7 2011
November 7 was the deadline, yet supporters and opponents alike The last CEAA panel described Fish Lake as “a place of spiritual
were kept on tenterhooks as the Canadian Environmental Assess- power and healing for the Tsilhqot’in.” In a media release from the
ment Agency waited until late afternoon Pacific Time to release its 3,101-member Tsilhqot’in Nation, Chief Joe Alphonse called on the
New Prosperity decision. Now both sides face up to a year of further CEAA to re-appoint the same three panel members.
uncertainty while the controversial gold-copper mine proposed
by Taseko Mines Ltd TSX:TKO for south-central BC works its way Although the CEAA report found few significant adverse effects
through another review. besides the Fish Creek watershed, it did focus strongly on issues
like established rights, potential rights and potential title, stating that
these issues were part of its terms of reference. The new panel’s
environmental guidelines and terms of reference haven’t been an-
nounced yet. “Both of those documents will be made available for
public comment prior to being finalized,” the agency states.
In a letter to the Northern Miner, Taseko President/CEO Russell
Hallbauer pointed out that “New Prosperity is located on Crown Land
owned by the people of BC.” He also stated that Taseko had paid
nearly $1 million to local native bands “to assist them with capacity
issues. We spent a further $750,000 to identify any archaeological
sites in the immediate mine-site area, an amount far in excess of
what was required of us under the law but which we agreed to do at
their request and to demonstrate our efforts to be responsive to their
interests.”
This marks the third review since the process started in 1993 and
the second since November 2010, when a CEAA panel’s report Tsilhqot’in leaders have told ResourceClips.com that they refuse to
prompted the federal cabinet to reject Taseko’s last proposal, which talk with Taseko.
was called Prosperity. The review largely focused on 118-hect-
are Fish Lake, which Taseko initially planned for a tailings dump. Phillip says he stands by his September UBCIC statement that
Taseko’s revised proposal, New Prosperity, moves the tailings two approval of New Prosperity “will trigger a province-wide and nation-
kilometres upstream. wide backlash that will severely jeopardize relationships between
First Nations and the mining industry for years to come.” Phillip
Supporters say the $1.1-billion open-pit mine would bring 71,000 reiterated the UBCIC’s support for the Tsilhqot’in but declined to be
direct and indirect jobs, $4.3 billion in federal taxes, $5.52 billion specific about his group’s plans.
in provincial taxes and a big chunk of the provincial mineral tax for
aboriginals. One day prior to the CEAA announcement, hundreds of marchers,
drawing people from Occupy Vancouver and including masked pro-
“That’s the value of mining, and it’s sure exemplified in this project,” testors, paraded through downtown Vancouver to denounce “mining
says Brian Battison, Taseko’s VP of Corporate Affairs. “If there’s a on native land.”
“
time when these opportunities are needed, it’s now.”
Opponents talk of environmental damage, cultural threats and even
a nation-wide breakdown of relations between natives and the min-
ing industry. They say the new proposal still threatens Fish Lake. I’ve been involved in indigenous
issues for 37 years or thereabouts,
“Obviously [the lake is] critically important,” Union of B.C. Indian
Chiefs president Stewart Phillip tells ResourceClips.com. “I’ve been
and I’ve never witnessed an issue
involved in indigenous issues for 37 years or thereabouts, and or project that has attracted such
I’ve never witnessed an issue or project that has attracted such widespread opposition
widespread opposition. It’s not just aboriginal opposition—there’s
environmental, conservation, human rights, multi-faith community, – Stewart Phillip
the general public.”
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