The Tsilquot'in Nation is reacting with suspicion to Taseko Mines's announcement it has submitted a revised plan for the Prosperity gold and copper mine that "greatly" reduces environmental impacts and preserves Fish Lake.
The project, in the Williams Lake area south of Prince George, was rejected by the federal government seven weeks ago over significant environmental impacts identified in a federal panel review.
Xeni Gwet'in chief Marilyn Baptiste said Wednesday all she knows about the company's proposal is what she has learned through media reports.
But she said she doesn't see how the company's new submission could answer First Nations' issues and concerns, or how it addresses the environmental impacts that were outlined in the federal panel decision.
It is not just Fish Lake that was a concern, but Little Fish Lake, impacts on grizzlies and their habitat, as well as the Taseko River, said Baptiste.
The area is also important for First Nations for hunting and fishing, she noted.
"The list goes on," said Baptiste, adding the company does not have a great track record, in her view, on respectful relationships with First Nations.
On Monday, Taseko announced it was submitting a revised plan that would add $300 million in costs to the $800-millon project because the long-term prospects of copper and gold prices have increased significantly.
That would allow the company to preserve the 121-hectare Fish Lake and accommodate the concerns of the federal government, said Taseko.
Given the project re-design retained much of the original plan, the company said it was confident the federal government would only have to review changes to the plan.
Details of the new plan have not been available yet, and Taseko representatives could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
Conservative Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris applauded the company's move to resubmit a revised plan, saying he's optimistic on its chances.
Harris said that he is ready to assist resolving any issues that may be outstanding between First Nations and Taseko, and invited First Nations leaders to contact him if they want his help.
Harris stressed while the federal government rejected Taseko's first application, it clearly indicated that a future application was an option.
"Of course I am happy to see that Taseko has taken up that option despite hundreds of millions of dollars in additional cost," said Harris. "This project means future and long lasting economic stability to the Cariboo-Chilcotin region, by creating thousands of jobs and adding billions to the economy over the life of the mine."
Last July, a federal panel concluded the Prosperity mine would have significant adverse environmental effects on fish and fish habitat, traditional First Nations use and on potential or established aboriginal rights or title.
Taseko's plan would turn Fish Lake into a storage pond for mining waste, destroying about 90,000 rainbow trout, according to the panel.
The company's plan to replace the lake with a new man-made lake to support 20,000 rainbow trout was questionable, said the panel.
The panel also concluded that the project, in combination with past, present and reasonably foreseeable future projects would result in a significant adverse cumulative effect on grizzly bears in the south Chilcotin region and on fish and fish habitat.
