Taseko Mines turned to the courts Monday after opponents of its New Prosperity gold and copper mine blocked efforts to carry out preliminary work on the site.
The incident occurred on Sunday Taseko officials said in a statement.
"Wishing to avoid a confrontation, Taseko employees turned the equipment convoy around and did not pursue the work they were permitted to undertake," Taseko officials said.
In response, Taseko initiated legal proceedings seeking a restraining order.
On Thursday, the Tsilhqot'in First Nation launched a court challenge seeking a suspension of permits granted by the B.C. government to continue exploration work.
The first nation and the Xeni Gwet'in (one of the Tsilhqot'in communities closest to the proposed mine) asked the court to invalidate approvals for drilling excavation, timber clearing, road construction and other exploratory work for the controversial mine 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake.
The $1.5-billion project, planned for a site 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, was rejected by Ottawa last year after a negative environmental assessment of a plan that would have turned Fish Lake into a tailings pond.
The company has since reworked its design to save the lake at an added cost of $300 million in capital and operating expenses to the proposed mine, which was previously expected to cost about $800 million and is now going through a second environmental review.
However, the Tsilhqot'in Nation has continued to strongly object to the revised plan saying it's worse than the original proposal.
