Editor:
In early December, a large delegation made a presentation to council. City council “agreed to disagree’” with them.
But surely council must realize how destructive this project would be.
The truth is that this mine cannot be built in the heart of the Fish Creek watershed without causing extreme damage to the surrounding ecosystem, primarily to the lakes, waterways, and the fish that inhabit them.
Little Fish Lake would not survive, and the three salmon-bearing rivers; the Taseko, Chilko, and Chilcotin would all be polluted by toxic wastes and runoff from this massive project.
It would seriously endanger the strongest, highest quality salmon run in this province.
Grizzly bear habitat would be destroyed. The proposed Hydro transmission line would have a definite impact. A 400-foot high “containment dam” for waste rock and earth is an issue.
Ore concentrate would be shipped 120 miles to McAllister, and yet the road to Fish Lake is impassable.
Road construction is another huge footprint. All these factors contribute to a cumulative effect that is far too great to be acceptable.
The second proposal is highly flawed, no better than the first one, which was rejected with a “scathing condemnation.”
The panel also rejected the Environment Impact Statement submitted by Taseko mines, due to the harm to the four Valued Ecosystem Components-Atmospheric, Aquatic, Acoustic, and Terrestrial.
I would have to give Taseko Mines a low mark in each category.
The silence of this beautiful wilderness area would be gone, as heavy machinery starts moving earth and belching diesel into the air. All runoff from earth disturbance would flow into the rivers.
This area would soon become an industrial wasteland.
So how could city council (and the DBA) support this project? Because the economic benefits for the community mean more to them.
It is only marginally profitable, very destructive to the environment, and faces strong opposition.
Why would Taseko pursue this project? Perhaps gold prices will reach $3,000 per ounce. They are probably counting on the Harper government, which puts resource extraction before environment and First Nations concerns. We do not agree, and remain opposed.
Michael Atwood
Williams Lake