From: J.P. Laplante [mailto:jlapla...@tsilhqotin.ca] Sent: July-22-13 11:18 PM To: jlapla...@tsilhqotin.ca Subject: FW: Mining Weekly coverage
fyi http://www.miningweekly.com/article/taseko-should-expect-local-opposition-at-bc-mine-public-hearings-2013-07-22 MINE OPPOSITION Taseko should expect local opposition at BC mine public hearings By: Henry Lazenby<http://www.miningweekly.com/author.php?u_id=1084> 22nd July 2013 Updated 53 minutes ago TORONTO (miningweekly.com) - The Tsilhqot'in First Nation on Monday said it was disappointed at being forced to once again oppose base metals producer Taseko Mine's proposed New Prosperity mine, in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of British Columbia, imploring the federal government to listen to community members, scientists and the public who were condemning this proposal for what it said was "an environmental and cultural disaster" that could not proceed. The Conservative Stephen Harper-led government in November 2010 rejected the mine proposal based on what then-Environment Minister Jim Prentice, described as one of the most "scathing" independent panel reports ever written. The report documented both significant environmental and cultural impacts, many of which the first panel noted could not be mitigated with an alternative option that the company was presenting to the panel. "We look forward to the opportunity to share with this new panel all the reasons that this new proposal is just as unacceptable as the last one, regardless of the name or spin thrown out there by this company," Xeni Gwet'in First Nation chief Roger William said. Taseko president and CEO Russel Hallbauer said the New Prosperity project was aligned with the values, interests and expectations of Canadians, specifically Canadians who call the Cariboo home. He said it would provide training and employment opportunities for First Nations and enable members, particularly youth, to train and work where they live and remain in their communities. "New Prosperity is a rare opportunity. The public value and benefit generated by the construction and operation of New Prosperity can be measured in thousands of jobs and in billions of dollars in new tax revenues for government," Hallbauer said. He added that the C$1-million copper/gold project, with the substantial public benefit that would flow from its development, could be accomplished without significant risk to the environment and with the highest standards of mine development in the world for which British Columbians, including those working for our company, are recognised. Environmental concerns were centred on Fish Lake, with its population of rainbow trout. "The mine plan is not experimental but rather founded on proven engineering and science, utilising operating procedures and equipment that are currently in use every day at mines in Canada, elsewhere in the world and right here in BC at our Gibraltar mine," Hallbauer said. "Given that the previous panel found significant adverse effects to Tsilhqot'in rights, regardless of which version of the mine being proposed, this is truly a test case for all First Nations across the province and Canada to see if this government takes its commitment to First Nations seriously, and whether the revamped environmental assessment will have any credibility going forward," Chief William said. The First Nation held that the proposed mine was so low-grade, at a time when even major mining companies were suffering extreme setbacks, that it created serious doubt that the company could actually deliver the extremely elaborate environmental mitigations being proposed, like putting Fish Lake, also called Teztan Biny, on 'life support' and using unproven and expensive water treatment for the long-term, perhaps forever. Vancouver-based Taseko is the 75%-owner and operator of the Gibraltar mine, the second-largest openpit copper/molybdenum mine in Canada. Taseko's New Prosperity project, which is currently in the environmental assessment process, is one of the largest undeveloped gold/copper porphyry deposits in the world, with a one-billion tonne measured and indicated resource containing 5.3-billion pounds of copper and 13.3-million ounces of gold. At metal prices of $1 000/oz of gold and $3.15/lb of copper, the project has a pretax net present value of C$3-billion and a 40% pre-tax internal rate of return. Taseko's shares on the TSX on Monday closed 5.29% higher at C$2.19 apiece. Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ Native News North List info{all lists}: http://nativenewsonline.org/natnews.htm Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NatNews-north/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NatNews-north/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: natnews-north-dig...@yahoogroups.com natnews-north-fullfeatu...@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: natnews-north-unsubscr...@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
