Editor:
The arguments put forward against the Prosperity mine project by many of the anti-mine people hinges on, their argument that Taseko does not have the technology or is not capable of preventing contamination from leaking from the Prosperity site.
That is like buying a new bath tub and complaining that you don’t think your new tub can hold water.
In the real world, we expect that the tub will not leak, as we must surely expect that the mining industry is equally capable.
Taseko, as with many industries today must abide by very stringent environmental rules.
These rules have been established over years of concerns raised by people, such as the concerns the people of Nemiah currently raise. That is the process of making such industries environmentally responsible regardless of nearby communities, as we can see in 40 years of mining near Mcleese Lake.
Where individuals have factual, proven information that some process is bound to fail, it is contingent upon each of us to bring that information forward, however, to keep harping on what might, or might not happen, is not factual or earth shattering reasoning, to condemn a project.
Mr. E. Johnson raised at Wells B.C, tells of growing up in Wells in the 1930s and 40s where 12-inch diameter outflows from each of the two mines, one on each side of the road, located at Wells allowed contaminated water to flow from their Ball Mills into the Deck-of-Clubs Lake whose outfall flows into the Fraser River.
This certainly and definitely was polluted water of which contaminates included Arsenic. It is demands for changes by protesting people that has changed the dynamics of how a modern industry can operate. Where people do have factual irrefutable environmental information, let them stand and be counted.
Mr. Johnson also tells that there were about 300 students in Wells in that period, what was interesting to him is that, they as children played on the mine waste piles of the period.
About 10 years ago these same students had a reunion, and he argues not one person attending that reunion was in a wheelchair, used canes or crutches, or even walkers.
We would not want our children playing in a similar environment, nor will we allow, or accept industry to pollute accidentally or otherwise in such manner today.
Doug Wilson
Williams Lake