Upon completion of an aquatic ecological risk assessment report that found 60 years of historical discharges from the Tulsequah Chief Mine show no discernable impact on fish in the Tulsequah River, Chieftain Metals Corp. said it ready to proceed with mine development.
Independent scientists from Palmer Environmental Consulting Group, Core6 Environmental Ltd. and Triton Environmental Consultants evaluated the water quality at four sites on the Tulsequah River near the confluence of the Taku River where the mine is located. The report, which studied the discharge impact on various types of fish including salmon and trout, showed the fish were unaffected and that there was no discernable impact from the historic discharge resulting from previous mining operations.
“We have the necessary permits to begin mine construction including the EA (Environmental Assessment) certificate received in 2012. The Land Use Plan allows for the mine and road construction. In December 2013, we released a third-party water quality assessment to the B.C Ministry of Environment confirming the fish are unaffected by the mine discharge,” said Chieftain Metals President and CEO Victor Wyprysky.
Taku River Tlingit First Nation, though, filed a lawsuit on Dec. 17 challenging the validity of the important Environmental Assessment certificate.
The legal challenge asserts the British Columbia Minister of Environment, Environmental Assessment Office erred in its determination that granted the EA certificate for the life of the mine, and asks that the decision be quashed, causing the certificate to expire.
During 2012, prior to the expiration of a temporary Environmental Assessment for the Tulsequah project, the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office determined that development of the mine was “substantially started,” a prerequisite to granting life-of-mine status to the EA certificate. Without this determination, the certificate expired in 2012.
Taku River Tlingit First Nation argues that the B.C. government failed to carry out mandated government-to-government consultation with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation prior to making the May 2012 “substantially started” decision.
“It’s not surprising to see a legal challenge because the Taku River Tlingit were not consulted or even notified of this determination,” said Chris Zimmer, Alaska campaign director, Rivers Without Borders.
Chieftain says it has followed all the necessary steps, procedures and consultation requirements and has obtained permits for the project in line with the land use plan and shared decision making agreement between the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and British Columbia.
“Chieftain has worked tirelessly to advance the project and remains committed to working with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and all other stakeholders in advancing the Tulsequah Chief project,” Wyprysky said.
