New Prosperity Mine: Destroying cultures, grizzlies and rainbow trout for a pot of gold
Submitted by admin on November 3, 2011 - 20:08
Canada must REJECT, Taseko’s rehashed proposal
[SUBHEAD]
Deadline is November 7th, 2011
Click to Comment
[PULL QUOTE STYLE]
At a time when people are more aware than ever of the value of freshwater resources on a global scale, it is unacceptable that Canadian lakes and rivers could be purposefully destroyed as toxic dumpsites.
[BODY]
Fish Lake and Little Fish Lake are near Williams Lake, B.C.
Fish Lake is home to tens of thousands of rainbow trout. It provides key grizzly and wildlife habitat and is within Tsilhqot’in First Nation traditional rights territories.
[SUBHEAD]
Summary
[BODY]
We have an opportunity to stop the New Prosperity Mine proposal now, without further review, without further strain on the already scarce resources of the federal government and First Nations, and without further undermining the Fisheries Act.
[SUBHEAD]
Traditional fishing or toxic waste dumping?
What is the value of Canada’s freshwater?
[BODY]
Last fall, thousands of people wrote to the federal government objecting to the Prosperity Mine proposal, which would turn Fish Lake and Little Fish Lake in toxic tailings ponds.
These fish-bearing lakes ARE protected under Canada’s Fisheries Act.
But a new loophole—Schedule 2—was added in 2002.
It would allow natural water bodies to be ‘re-classified’ as toxic tailings ponds.
The Prosperity Mine proposal hinges on this loophole.
[SUBHEAD]
Why the Canadian government said “No” in 2010
[BODY]
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) reviewed the Prosperity Mine proposal and concluded that the large-scale, open-pit mine would destroy spawning habitat and have permanent, destructive impacts on fisheries, wildlife and First Nations’ rights.
The Federal government rejected the proposal in November, 2010.
Just 3 months later, Taseko Mines Ltd. came back with a ‘new’ proposal and wants the CEAA to assess it again.
[SUBHEAD]
‘New’ proposal is a rehash—and worse than the first one
[BODY]
In the company’s rehashed proposal, Fish Lake would not be drained but would still be surrounded by open-pit mines.
It would be unusable for the life of the mine—and impacted for generations after.
Little Fish Lake, 2 km upstream, would be reclassified as a tailings pond and filled with poisonous mining waste.
But these lakes are connected.
Eventually, toxins would contaminate Fish Lake and kill its living creatures.
There is nothing new about this proposal. These destructive plans were listed as an option in Taseko’s last proposal.
We have the right to ask that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency REJECT reviewing this destructive proposal one more time.
[SIDEBAR]
There are 19 other lakes and rivers across the country that have been re-classified or are being considered for re-classification as Tailing Impoundment Areas.
Lakes hold a special place in Canadian identity. Despite their cultural and ecological importance, Canadian lakes are facing a growing threat.
Stay tuned and get involved.
Canada must REJECT, Taseko’s rehashed proposal
Deadline is November 7th, 2011
Click to Comment
At a time when people are more aware than ever of the value of freshwater resources on a global scale, it is unacceptable that Canadian lakes and rivers could be purposefully destroyed as toxic dumpsites.
Fish Lake and Little Fish Lake are near Williams Lake, B.C.
Fish Lake is home to tens of thousands of rainbow trout. It provides key grizzly and wildlife habitat and is within Tsilhqot’in First Nation traditional rights territories.
Summary
We have an opportunity to stop the New Prosperity Mine proposal now, without further review, without further strain on the already scarce resources of the federal government and First Nations, and without further undermining the Fisheries Act.
Traditional fishing or toxic waste dumping?What is the value of Canada’s freshwater?
Last fall, thousands of people wrote to the federal government objecting to the Prosperity Mine proposal, which would turn Fish Lake and Little Fish Lake in toxic tailings ponds.
These fish-bearing lakes ARE protected under Canada’s Fisheries Act.
But a new loophole—Schedule 2—was added in 2002.
It would allow natural water bodies to be ‘re-classified’ as toxic tailings ponds.
The Prosperity Mine proposal hinges on this loophole.
Why the Canadian government said “No” in 2010
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) reviewed the Prosperity Mine proposal and concluded that the large-scale, open-pit mine would destroy spawning habitat and have permanent, destructive impacts on fisheries, wildlife and First Nations’ rights.
The Federal government rejected the proposal in November, 2010.
Just 3 months later, Taseko Mines Ltd. came back with a ‘new’ proposal and wants the CEAA to assess it again.
‘New’ proposal is a rehash—and worse than the first one
In the company’s rehashed proposal, Fish Lake would not be drained but would still be surrounded by open-pit mines.
It would be unusable for the life of the mine—and impacted for generations after.
Little Fish Lake, 2 km upstream, would be reclassified as a tailings pond and filled with poisonous mining waste.
But these lakes are connected.
Eventually, toxins would contaminate Fish Lake and kill its living creatures.
There is nothing new about this proposal. These destructive plans were listed as an option in Taseko’s last proposal.
We have the right to ask that the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency REJECT reviewing this destructive proposal one more time.
