AG CENTRE SUPPORTS FARMERS 3 NOVEMBER 13, 2013
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Gaven Crites photo
Hundreds of area residents turned up for Remembrance Day celebrations in 100 Mile House on Nov. 11. Tom Nickel, patrol commander for the 4th Canadian Ranger Patrol Group, led a parade down Birch Avenue before a ceremony organized by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #260 in the 100 Mile Community Hall.
Panel reviews wrong design New Prosperity Mine report marred by NRCan’s misinformation
Carole Rooney Free Press
Taseko Mines Ltd. states it has determined that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) used the wrong design in its analysis of the proposed New Prosperity Mines tailings storage facility, leading the federal review panel to incorrect findings. One of Taskeo’s top project engineering consultants, Knight Piesold, advised the mining company last week that NRCan, and subsequently the environmental review panel, used an incorrect design in its analysis of potential seepage rates from the tailings storage. That design was apparently missing a crucial, low-permeability compact
soil liner to restrict seepage losses. “The bottom line here is this calls Taseko vice-president of corpo- into question the validity of the panrate affairs Brian Battison says the el’s findings of significant adverse government of Canada now has environmental impacts on fish, fish a “flawed finding” in the panel’s habitat, wetlands and Aboriginal report, recently submitted to interests in the Fish Lake Environment Minister Leona area.” Aglukkaq. Once the panel released its The panel’s finding that the report, engineers at Knight tailings storage facility would Piesold and Taseko nareventually lead to significant rowed their focus to explore seepage into Fish Lake was particular areas of concern, strongly based on the modelhe explains. ling provided by NRCan, he BRIAN BATTISON While NRCan’s use of this explains. erroneous information has “It is clear now that NRCan relied been confirmed by both companies, on the wrong design in its analysis, Battison says no government or and then the panel relied on this other regulatory body has yet corwrong information to draw conclu- roborated the evidence. sions in its report. “It’ll take them some time to
examine what happened and who did what.” Battison says the correct tailings facility design, which includes a vital pond liner to control seepage, is “very similar” to the Mount Polley and Mount Milligan mines. Without that liner, tailings seepage would readily leak into the ground and fractured bedrock, he explains. Knight Piesold’s design for Mt. Milligan won the Thompson Creek Metals Company an award of merit from the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-Canada, the Battison adds. “So, that design now is being held up by the Ministry of Energy and Continued on 6