-Caveat Lector- Yukon government considers oil development in "important wetlands" Thursday, August 30, 2001 By Erica Gies, Environmental News Network Peel River in Yukon, Canada WHITEHORSE, Yukon, Canada - An area that has been called one of the Yukon's most important wetlands has been nominated for oil and gas development, raising a controversy similar to that over the United States' Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Unlike the situation in the United States, however, the Yukon government is asking for the public's opinion. It uses a five-step process that includes an internal departmental review, consultations with First Nations (native Canadian groups), a call for nominations, a review process, and a call for bids. During the fourth step, the review process, the public is given 45 days to voice its opinion to the government. The area in question is the Peel River Watershed, and the Yukon chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) has registered its opinion by calling on the Yukon government to cancel the area's nomination for oil and gas development. "The Peel Plateau wetlands support a population of endangered peregrine falcon, contain key waterfowl habitat, and are an important staging area for migratory waterfowl," said Mac Hislop, CPAWS oil and gas coordinator. "Over the years, the Peel Plateau wetlands have been identified as a priority area for protection by the Yukon Government, Environment Canada, and the Mackenzie Delta-Beaufort Sea Regional Land Use Plan." At the Department of Economic Development's April 2001 North Yukon stakeholders' workshop, participants urged the government to exclude the Peel River Watershed from its 2001 Call for Nominations, according to CPAWS. "Why has the Yukon government ignored the advice of stakeholders and its own data?" asked Hislop. However, Scott Kent, minister of economic development for Yukon Territory said, "We're following the five-step process, so we're consulting the Yukon people before we move forward." The review process inviting public input about the Peel River Watershed ends Sept. 21. Kent sees no comparison between the struggles over the Peel River Watershed and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the United States because the Yukon people are consulted directly and the American public's opinion is not built directly into the United States' process. Also, Kent said, "The Yukon government is opposed to (oil and gas development of) ANWR because of concern for cultural values and sustenance issues for the Vuntut Gwitchin people who live in the northern Yukon Territory." These native people of Canada have hunted caribou in the ANWR region for generations. Kent couldn't say exactly what kind of public feedback would result in the call for bids being revoked and admitted that to his knowledge, this process had never derailed an oil and gas exploration. But he then added, "We will not be taking this public consultation phase lightly. It is not in there just because it looks good. It could change the parameters or conditions of the deal, such as only allowing drilling in certain areas during certain times of year." The Yukon government points out that this five-step process confers oil and gas rights for a given location but does not give the right to actually explore or drill for oil or gas. After rights are awarded, when a company applies for a license for oil or gas development, an environmental screening process is required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act or the Yukon's Development Assessment Process. A couple of weeks after Sept. 21, all public input will be analyzed - including CPAWS's position - and a decision will be made by Kent. Copyright 2001, Environmental News Network <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
