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Gold/Mining/Energy : Gold and Silver Juniors, Mid-tiers and Producers -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: loantech who wrote (26734)	11/30/2006 11:28:43 PM
From: onepath	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 78431

Tom be a little careful with NGX right now.A lot of headlines locally up here.I have no idea which way this will go but it should be taken seriously.Most of the work force is from Prince George. Wednesday, November 29, 2006 First Nations wants mine review halted by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff Representatives of the Tse Keh Nay Nation are in Victoria today to ask a joint federal and provincial environmental panel to shut down its review of Northgate Minerals' $200-million mine project in northern B.C. The Tse Keh Nay Nation -- which includes the Takla, Tsay Keh Dene and Kwadacha bands -- wants the review process halted until the federal and provincial governments have "fully and meaningfully" consulted with them. The Tse Keh Nay are joining the Gitxsan House of Nii Kyap which last week called for the review process to be suspended until they're properly consulted and are provided with adequate funding to engage in the consultations. The three-person review panel has already held week-long hearings in Prince George and Smithers, and is scheduled to deliver its recommendations in the new year. The panel added the extra day of public hearings in Victoria specifically to hear the Gitxsan's motion which they introduced during the hearings in Smithers last week. Takla chief John French said while the Tse Keh Nay support sustainable economic development, there is no way the governments and the company should be teaming up to destroy their sacred lake. "It's unacceptable for the review process to continue further when Crown ministries have admitted that they haven't even consulted with us," said French, who will attend the hearing with Tsay Keh Dene grand chief Gordon Pierre. The Gitxsan House of Nii Kyap will present its motion to the panel in the morning, after which Canada, B.C., Northgate and the Tse Keh Nay are expected to comment on the call to suspend the hearings. The panel has said it will consider the motion as well as the comments, then make a decision. One of the key environmental issues is the use of Duncan Lake to store mine waste. The Tse Keh Nay Nations are vehemently opposed to the use of Duncan Lake, called Amazay in the Sekani language. The First Nations are not only concerned about the impact on Duncan Lake, which is home to several species of fish, but the potential for acid runoff into the Finlay River system and impact on drinking water and wildlife. Northgate says the use of the lake is the best environmental option and the only economically feasible option: $200 million versus the next scenario at $1 billion. Provincial mining officials have agreed it's the best environmental option as it prevents oxygen from starting the acid-generating process. The company hopes to extend the life of its existing operations for a decade by opening a second pit, called Kemess North. The existing Kemess South operations nearby include a open pit and ore milling facility, as well as a tailings pond. At stake are 350 jobs for mine workers, some of whom live in Prince George and Smithers. ©Copyright 2006 Prince George Citizen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This page has been accessed times since April 1st, 2002 For all the latest news, sports, & opinions consider a subscription to The Prince George Citizen.