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FERNIE
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
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First Place
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Ski season ends with a splash
Fernie teen collects winning car - Page 5 SOUTH COUNTRY
Sock hop in Jaffray Page 11 ENTERTAINMENT
Fernie’s take on Steel Magnolias - Page 19
ELECTION
The Coca-Cola Slope Soaker wrapped up the ski season at Fernie Alpine Resort on Saturday. For the full story and more photos, turn to page 2.
Photo by A. Treharne
MLA question of the week - Page 4
Teck gets government go-ahead for expansion
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
By Nicole Liebermann Free Press Staff
Featuring Elk Valley residents
& community groups that
support environmental initiatives
T
go green Earth Day • April www.earthdayfernie .ca
INSIDE!
Earth DaY
Events Schedule THE FREE PRESS ~ APRil 2013
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April 22
eck Resources Limited has received an Area Based Management Plan Order from the B.C. Ministry of Environment, providing clarity around watershed protection and allowing the company to move forward with mining activities in the Elk Valley.
“This order we received from the B.C. government is a positive step towards really finalizing a regulatory basis to dealing with this issue,” said Marcia Smith, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs. “We are very committed to maintaining the health of the Elk River and this really provides us with
a path forward so we can finalize a water quality plan for the Elk Valley.” The Order, issued under Section 89 of the Environmental Management Act, stipulates the development of an areabased management plan to address the impact of selenium and other substances released by mining activities
throughout the watershed. It will also look at associated economic and social costs and benefits, as well as concentration targets and timeframes required to stabilize and reduce levels of these substances. Development of the plan is expected to take up to 15 months and activities on Line Creek Phase II
and other Teck projects are expected to move forward as originally planned. “We are expecting our permitting activities on Line Creek II will continue on the timelines they are on now and will continue as they are now, and the process the B.C. Government asked us to do yesterday will start now,” stated Smith. Continued on page 20
WHAT CHOICE WILL WE MAKE? High Taxes or Low Taxes? * New Jobs or Lost Jobs? * A Strong Economy or the Worst Economy in Canada? Access to Our Backcountry or More Road Closures & Parks? * A Strong Proven MLA or a Rookie MLA?
Our choice has consequences. To keep Kootenay East strong, our choice on May 14th is Bill Bennett AUTHORIZED BY BILL BROCK, FINANCIAL AGENT FOR BILL BENNETT 250-426-3404