MUD DRAGS WERE A FAMILY EVENT A24 SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
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EMOTIONAL GATHERING
YOUNG BOXERS TRAINING HARD A25
Gaven Crites photo
Aug. 31, close to 50 people gathered near the South Cariboo Visitor Centre for an emotional unveiling of a new monument dedicated to the victims of C.P. Air Flight 21 that crashed on July 8, 1965. 100 Mile House residents Ruth Peterson, left, and Didi Henderson, who lost her father in the crash, unveiled the monument together.
MICHAELA DICKEY ON STAGE B1
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Mine opposition group addresses panel Friends of Fish Lake plead for no New Prosperity
Carole Rooney Free Press
Patricia Spencer spoke on behalf of the Friends of Fish Lake (FOFL) during the federal review panel’s Closing Remarks session for the New Prosperity Gold-Copper project held Aug. 23. She said FOFL represents many people in the 100 Mile House area who enjoy Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and its surrounding area for the natural beauty, recreational opportunities, wildlife and fisheries values. “After listening to information presented in the Topic Specific hearings, our concerns about the projected or potential environmental impacts of the proposed mine have only deepened.” Its primary concerns about water quality and the overall ecological health of the lake also persist, Spencer explained. She added it is “inappropriate” for Taseko Mines Ltd. to leave details on adaptive management, mitigation,
and monitoring plans and programs Little Fish Lake, Upper Fish Creek to the permitting stage. and the surrounding wetlands will “Water in our lakes and streams is be buried under the tailings storage a precious resource that we all share, facility, she said, adding it is an area and it needs to be protected.” of significant cultural and heritage Many experts at the hearings value for the Tsilhqot’in people, still talked about Taseko’s water in use today. management plan, including Spencer noted the tailings a recirculating system that seepage can be reduced, but is “unproven at this scale,” not eliminated, so over time, Spencer said, adding that contaminants will eventually if the mine proceeds, its run into the salmon-bearing unique species of rainbow Taseko River, also leaving it trout will die “within a few at risk. decades.” Experts testified the mine PATRICIA “We still don’t know how would threaten the area’s SPENCER long the pumping would be “last viable population” of required – perhaps in pera unique grassland species petuity – and the inherent ecological of grizzly bears with extinction, she and financial risks of this system are explained. unacceptable to us.” Many Tsilhqot’in and Secwepemc Taseko Mines based much of its people have spoken loud and clear in supporting arguments for the proj- their opposition to this mining proect on the claim that Fish Lake and posal and the proposed transmission its trout would be saved, Spencer line, Spencer added. noted. “Personally, I was especially However, she told the panel the moved by the fact that community evidence points to the contrary. members frequently stated that part
of their duty as Aboriginal people is to protect the lands and waters of their territories.... The Tsilhqot’in and Secwepemc people are being asked to bear the burden of this mining project.” Some argue the economic benefits (which FOFL also questions) of the proposed mine would justify the negative environmental effects and impacts on First Nations, she said, adding economics can never justify a mining plan with “so many risks and such significant negative impacts.” “The Friends of Fish Lake are opposed to this proposed mine because there are too many financial and environmental risks associated with the project, and it is contrary to the wishes of First Nations. “There is so much at stake here: the water, the wildlife, the trout, the salmon, one of our region’s last pristine wilderness areas, and a way of life for the Tsilhqot’in and Secwepemc people. Taseko lacks the social licence to proceed.”