Re: Bad Info Hurting Mine Image, Firms say. Aug. 13, 2013.
Representatives from Taseko Mines Ltd. refer to "inaccurate information" presented regarding the hearings into their New Prosperity Mine project and imply the sources of this information are lacking in credibility. What they do not mention is that some of the strongest criticism of their project comes from federal and provincial government experts, who can hardly be accused of being anti-mining.
These experts cite concerns of environmental damage and express strong doubts that the mine plan will protect surrounding waters and fish habitat.
The provincial Ministry of Mines told the panel "it is unlikely that the project can be developed as currently designed without adverse effects to the water quality of Fish lake and its tributaries...".
And this from Environment Canada scientists: "Environment Canada is concerned that the Proponent may have underestimated the potential impacts of the Project on water quality in Wasp Lake, Little Onion Lake and Big Onion Lake. Given that these lakes drain to the Taseko River, Environment Canada is also concerned that the Proponent may have underestimated impacts on water quality in the Taseko River."
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans says: "We presume there is no point in preserving Fish Lake if the water quality is not also preserved. Given some inconsistencies in the EIS, some uncertainty regarding seepage from the tailing storage facility (TSF), the unproven nature of some of the water recirculation and some of the proposed treatment methods, we are unable to draw a conclusion about the proponent's ability to maintain good water quality in Fish Lake."
Health Canada has "concerns that, by the Proponent's adopting a less conservative approach in the New Prosperity EIS, the safety margins for human health risk assessment may have been reduced to such an extent that the potential adverse effects on human health could be underestimate."
Natural Resources Canada and Transport Canada recommends that the Panel consider that, without mitigation measures, there is a strong likelihood that the Proponent will not be able to maintain all tailings submerged below the water table thereby establishing local hydrological conditions favourable for the seepage of acid mine drainage.
Meanwhile, TML's Mr. McManus is quoted as saying "hired" experts are saying the "grizzly bears will be made extinct". In fact, two of British Columbia's most eminent bear biologists, Dr. Sue Senger and Wayne McCrory, RPBio., presented compelling evidence that the threatened dryland Chilcotin grizzly bear will be "extirpated" from the area and will likely be pushed over the edge into extinction as a distinct type should this mine be allowed to proceed. Dr. Senger, Environmental Lead for St'at'imc says Taseko's "mitigation plan (for impacts on grizzlies) is NOT based on data" and that "it is extremely difficult to get the kind of results (they) are predicting"....says Taseko is "overly optimistic" about being able to avoid reduction in already threatened grizzly population.
Is Mr, McManus, a layman, calling these internationally recognized experts in their field misinformed or incompetent??
David Williams
Executive Director
Friends of the Nemaiah Valley
