Mining concers require addressing

Page 7

An open letter to the minster of the Environment

Dear Mr. Marchi:

We are writing to you to express our concerns regarding the proposed

Huckleberry Mine project in northern British Columbia. It appears that

the environmental assessment process in favor of the the proponent, with

inadequate attention being paid to the significant social and

environmental risks associated with the project.

In light of the federal government's role in these proceedings and its

comparatively greater control over mining in Yukon, we have grave

concerns about the potential implications of the Huckleberry project on

mining in the territory.

Independent experts have expressed serious misgivings about the design

and planing of the Huckleberry project. Kevin Morin, a professional

geoscientist and president of Morwijk Enterprises (Mining Drainage

Assessment Group), has argued that the information provided by HML

(Huckleberry Mines Ltd.) is completely inadequate for assessing the

potential acid rock drainage and metal leaching potential of the

proposed project.

It is his professional opinion that the project should not be allowed

to proceed before further research is conducted on these potential

hazards and the project design is modified to take this new information

into account. Despite these concerns, it seems as though the project

may be passed through the environmental assessment process as an

"exception," since it is the first proposal to be reviewed under CEAA.

We find this justification for the project completely unacceptable,

especially given the fact that--as Morin points out---the Huckleberry

project does not even meet the old MDAP "standard of information." CEAA

was extablished to insure that projects such as the Huckleberry mine do

not pose an unacceptable risk to the environment. The application and

enforcement of stingent environmental standards is absolutely essential

for the protection and maintenance of a sound environmental review

process is completely inappropriate and renders the whole process

meaningless.

Considering the fact that the Huckleberry mining project is to occur on

the Cheslatta Carier First Nation's traditional territory, we find it

deeply distrubing that the government is ignoring their opposition to

the project. The federal government has a fiduciary responsibility to

the First Nation peoples of Canada, as spelled out in the constitution.

We view the government's actions with regard to the Huckleberry mine as

a breach of faith and an abdication of that responsibility. Until such

settlements are in place that would allow the Cheslatta Carrier First

Nation to protect their own interests in their traditional territory, it

is the government's responsibility to ensure the protection of those

lands for future generations. We are adamantly opposed, then, to any

attempt to "fast-track" the Huckleberry mine through the environmental

assessment process. We fully support the Cheslatta Carrier First Nation

and other local interests who have expressed their opposition to the

project.

In addition to our concerns about the Huckleberry mine in particular,

we are also concerned that this project will set a precendent for

similar projects in Yukon. These misgivings appear to be born out by

Yukon territorial government leader John Ostashek's recent statements

supporting Japanese invesotors in the Huckleberry project and

criticizing the environmental assessment process as too cumbersome and

restrictive.

He has extolled the more streamline nature of the process in Yukon and

attempted to entice potential Japanese and Taiwanese mining investment

by favorably comparing environmental assessment in Yukon with similar

processes in other jurisdictions throughout Canada. No one is in favor

of a overly complex and cumbersome assessment process. We feel,

however, that since the Huckleberty mine is currently being fast-tracked

through the environmental assessment process as an "exception," it is

entirely inappropriate to use the projec as a benchmark on which to

base both current and future environmental assessment processes in

Yukon.

Given the fact that mineral rights in the territory are still a federal

rather than a territorial responsibility, we question the federal

government's inclusion of Ostashek in the trade mission to Asia and the

role he is being allowed to take in the shaping of the development

assessment process and of mining in the territory.

Sincerely,

Chief Joseph Johnson

Kluane First Nation

Burwash Landing, Yukon