Mayor, Blue Pearl dig in
By Quinn Bender - Smithers Interior News - June 04, 2008
bclocalnews.com
The recent clashing of ideas between Mayor Jim Davidson and Blue Pearl hasn’t discouraged the company from pressing forward on its plans to develop a molybdenum mine from the Smithers side of Hudson Bay Mountain.
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. But basically, our position is if we switched horses now and go to the other side of the mountain, it would really put the project at risk,” said project manager Ken Collison.
“This is a good project. It’s going to be good for us, and it’s going to be good for Smithers.”
Once in production the mine will employ approximately 90 mine workers and 35 truck drivers. By confining infrastructure to the Smithers side of the mountain the company feels it can divert their trucks around rural residential areas.
During a council meeting last month Davidson argued the merits of switching the mine operation to the backside of the mountain, in the interest of moving potential environmental impacts away from communities, as well open the opportunity of milling the ore locally.
Davidson told The Interior News the debate with Collision hasn’t moved him from his position either.
“I’m not against mining... but certainly there’s an opportunity here for the mine to be successful from the back,” Davidson said.
“The Glacier Gulch area is not an industrial area. It simply is not, but that’s where they want to put the infrastructure.”
The gulch lies outside the town boundaries, but that won’t dissuade Davidson from canvassing public opinion on the direction the mine should take.
“All of us that have lived here have an absolute affinity for that mountain. Suppose it goes ahead and we have all this development on our mountain, but the resource isn’t utilized for all the reasons we know are possible. Then what? What are we prepared to pay [in terms of] social, economic and environmental impacts on our community?”
Skeena Bulkley-Valley MP Nathan Cullen echoed Davidson’s concerns during a regular tele-conference from Ottawa with news media.
He said while seeking assurance for a long-term project, he is also asking for better clarification of why Blue Pearl can’t move their operation to the backside of Hudson Bay Mountain for various environmental reasons.
“A lot of folks are having concerns with this mining project. I think people have been very reasonable in trying to engage the mining company, and I think there have been some frustrations for sure.”
Collison wasn’t aware of the conversations between Cullen and Blue Pearl.
During a public meeting with Town Council May 13, residents pressed the company on specific environmental concerns. Blue Pearl asked the public to await the release of their environmental assessment in the next couple of weeks, after which time they will hold public consultations. |
