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June 26, 2014 --- Vol. 08, No. 26June 2014

Yukon extends mineral staking prohibition for Ross River area

The Yukon government June 25 reported that it has issued an extension to the interim withdrawal from mineral staking for the Ross River Area. The staking withdrawal is in effect until Jan. 31, 2015.

The Dec. 27, 2012 decision of the Yukon Court of Appeal in Ross River Dena Council vs. Government of Yukon stated that the Yukon government must consult the Ross River Dena Council about whether to grant mineral rights on Crown lands in the Ross River Area.

The Yukon government continues to consult with the Ross River Dena Council on how to address this decision. The government is committed to completing the consultation and reaching a solution in time for the 2015 exploration season.

Mining claim holders in the area will continue to be relieved from the requirement to perform work on their existing claims in the area or pay in lieu until the process is complete.

The relief from assessment will occur as a separate order authorized under Section 57 of the Quartz Mining Act. Without such relief in place, claim owners could lose their claims if they did not perform work on them or pay in lieu.

Subhed: New areas designated

The Yukon government earlier approved the designation of several new areas that will require notification for Class 1 (low-level) mineral exploration activities.

Individuals prospecting or exploring at a Class 1 level on quartz or placer claims located on settlement lands or on crown lands as described below will need to notify the government, Yukon officials reported June 19.

“The Yukon government is working together with First Nations and the mining sector to achieve greater clarity and certainty for the development of a strong resource industry in the territory,” Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Scott Kent said. “All parties recognize the social and economic importance of mining to Yukon.”

The new areas which will require notification beginning July 1, 2014 are:

• All Category A and B Settlement Lands as identified under each Yukon First Nation Final Agreement;

• Shared Traditional Territory of Kluane First Nation and White River First Nation, which is also described as the Southwestern Yukon Class 1 Notification Area;

• The remainder of the Kaska Traditional Territory not already covered by the Ross River Area order, which is also described as the Watson Lake Class 1 Notification Area; and

• The asserted area of the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, which also is described as the South Yukon Class 1 Notification Area.

“We are committed to managing Yukon’s natural resources responsibly, and Class 1 notifications are a useful tool for this,” Kent added.

As a next step, the Yukon government will be working with First Nations and industry on setting revised thresholds for Class 1 notification that will apply across all of Yukon by the summer 2015 field season.

These actions follow the December 2012 court decision—Ross River Dena Council vs. the Government of Yukon—which stated that the Yukon government has a duty to notify and, where appropriate, consult with and accommodate the Ross River Dena Council before allowing any mining exploration activities to take place within the Ross River Area. In December 2013 the Yukon Legislature passed the Act to Amend the Placer Mining Act and the Quartz Mining Act. This act allowed the Yukon government to designate areas where industry must notify the government of low-level (Class 1) mining exploration activities.


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