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THURSDAY, September 20, 2012
RCMP look for man
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
VOL. 82. No. 74
Strike action Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
United Steelworkers Local 1-425 Union member Pearson Armstrong joined his wife, COPE 378 union member Heidi Armstrong on the picket line Tuesday morning at the ICBC Claim Centre in Williams Lake on Broadway Avenue North. COPE 378 members picketed 55 ICBC centres across the province for a one-day strike, while offices remained open because some employees were deemed essential. The union has been without a contract for more than two years. A leaflet distributed by the picketers says COPE 378’s research shows ICBC could easily reduce optional insurance policies by $35 and still give employees a cost-of-living increase.
The Langley RCMP are seeking the public’s assistance in locating a man believed to be living in the Cariboo. Mario Guy Martel — who is wanted on outstanding warrants for dangerous driving causing bodily harm and fail to stop at the scene of an accident — is believed to be living in the 100 Mile House/Williams Lake area and failed to attend his last court date. These warrants originate from an injury collision, which took place in Langley on Aug. 3, 2007 in the 21000 block of 77A Avenue. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Martel is asked to call their local RCMP detachment or, to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers. For more info, visit wltribune. com or http://langley.rcmp.ca/ ViewPage.action?siteNodeId= 116&languageId=1&contentI d=26999.
New Prosperity EIS to be submitted soon
Inside the Tribune NEWS Bear fines may be issued.
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SPORTS A breakaway win.
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COMMUNITY A15 The Deaks — giving artists. Weather outlook: Sunny today, high of 24 C. Sunny Friday, high of 26 C.
$1.34 inc.
Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer Taseko Mines Ltd. plans to submit its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the federal review panel by the end of the week, said Taseko’s vice president of corporate affairs Brian Battison. Battison, during a presentation to city council Sept. 18, said the EIS is presently being printed. “The EIS is a couple of thousand pages of science and engineering, which describes how New Prosperity will be built and particularly how the water issue will be managed,” Battison said, adding the company would spend $300 million more on this proposal to mitigate environmental impacts, including the preservation of Fish Lake, and address the concerns expressed by the previous federal assessment. The EIS also “helps alleviate concerns of First Nations and reduces impact on grizzly bears,” Battison said, adding the area is not prime or moderate grizzly bear habitat. “The only impact on bears is
thought to be the increase of traffic on roads out to the region and we have plans for mitigating that. The conclusion of the EIS is that there will be no adverse environmental effect from this project.” No changes have been made to several aspects of the mine proposal, he said. The location, method of mill processing, mill operations, ancillary facilities, transmission line, access road and concentrate rail load out facility have not changed. “That’s important because this environmental assessment is about what is new and what has changed and the impact that those changes may have on the previous findings of the Prosperity project.” Listing off the economical benefits of the project for B.C. and Canada, Battison suggested it will have a bigger economic impact than the entire B.C. fishery. “We believe New Prosperity will dramatically benefit First Nations. There’s a lot of stuff in the media contrary to that, but when you see this new design and understand what it does, you will see it dramatically benefits First Nations
communities.” Battison said Taseko continues to work with the Tsilhqot’in. He referenced the recent restoration work at the Puntzi Creek watershed, where Taseko funded the work, collaborating with the provincial government and Ervin Charleyboy, along with some young First Nations employees. He also highlighted exploration work at the New Prosperity site in the winter, and that the exploration work is being done by Xeni Gwet’in Enterprises. Taseko has an agreement with the Tsay Keh Dene for road construction for at its Aley Niobium Project, north of Mackenzie, B.C. “What’s interesting is the Tsay Keh Dene were instrumental with other First Nations, in stopping the Kemess Mine from happening, but in our case they’re working with us to see that hopefully this project can ultimately be a mine again,” Battison said, adding Taseko understands the value of working with First Nations and is trying to make the New Prosperity Mine work for everybody. If the panel accepts Taseko’s
EIS, then it will hold public hearings, and then submit a final report to the federal environment minister and cabinet. Battison said Taseko has an existing approval for the project from the provincial government. “We have an existing EA (environmental assessment) certificate. Because of the new design, which is essentially moving the tailings facility a couple of kilometres upstream from the lake, that existing approval requires an amendment. There needs to be an amendment process that the provincial government will embark upon to grant that amendment. The province needs to get its house in order and get ready with what we need to have in place,” Battison said. City council, following Battison’s presentation, passed a resolution supporting the New Prosperity mine development, provided that provincial and federal environmental standards are met and affected First Nations are adequately consulted. See COUNCIL Page A2