The public comment period on two documents related to Taseko Mines Ltd.'s controversial New Prosperity gold and copper mine southwest of Williams Lake is underway.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) is accepting comment until Feb. 22 on the draft environmental impact statement guidelines and the draft terms of reference, both of which will be used during the project's review panel.
The guidelines provide direction to the
proponent and identify the information that is required in the environmental impact
statement. The terms of reference establish the mandate and authorities of the review panel, as well as the procedures and timelines for the review. After taking public comments into consideration, the guidelines and the terms of reference will be finalized and made public.
The documents and details on submitting comments, as well as additional information on the project, can be found at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca under reference No. 11-05-63928.
The complete project description, including an executive summary of New Prosperity, can be found at www.newprosperityproject.ca.
The CEAA has also awarded a total of $91,000 to seven applicants to support their participation in the environmental review of the project.
The funding recipients are Federico G. Osorio, the Friends of Nemaiah Valley, MiningWatch Canada, the Share the Cariboo-Chilcotin Resources Society, the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, the Sierra Club British Columbia, and the Environmental Mining
Education Foundation.
The funding is provided to help recipients prepare for and participate in the upcoming steps of the review process, including reviewing and commenting on the draft guidelines and panel terms of reference, the environmental impact statement and participating in public hearings.
The proposed mine is to go through a second environment assessment after Taseko submitted a revised proposal.
Ottawa rejected the original proposal, planned for a site 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, because it would have turned Fish Lake into a tailings pond.
The reworked design will cost Taseko an additional $300 million, raising the total price tag to $1.5 billion.
However, the Tsilhqot'in Nation has continued to strongly object to the revised plan.
In November, then federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice gave the agency one year to conduct its review, including holding public hearings and preparing its report.
