Taku Tlingit pull reps from Tulsequah road process
Posted: August 13, 2012 - 12:03am
By RUSSELL STIGALL
JUNEAU EMPIRE
Taku Tlingit pull reps from Tulsequah road process
RUSSELL STIGALL
August 13, 2012 12:03 AM EDT
http://juneauempire.com/local/2012-08-13/taku-tlingit-pull-reps-tulsequah-road-process
Prospects for road access to Chieftain Metals' Tulsequah Chief Mine dimmed as
right-of-way owners Taku River Tlingit First Nation stepped away from an
environmental assessment process.
Citing concern over Chieftain's inadequate planning, difficulty meeting
deadlines and the closure of the mine's water treatment facility
(goo.gl/aRNB0), TRTFN said it has pulled back from the road access process
(goo.gl/FGtpq) until several questions have been answered.
TRTFN informed British Columbia's Environmental Assessment Office
(goo.gl/Uft2z) and Chieftain Metals that the first nation planned to pull its
technical teams from the Environmental Assessment Office and Northwest Mine
Development Review Committee tables on July 16, 2012.
".due to a combination of critical issues.," according to a release on TRTFN's
website (goo.gl/1tdU0).
Chieftain's amended Environmental Assessment application to the B.C.
Environmental Assessment Office is of "poor quality" and the mining company's
construction plans and start-up activities are delayed - two reasons for
TRTFN's reluctance, according to its web release.
TRTFN has remained engaged in the processes despite the process being "well
behind schedule," according to the release. "However, in light of recent
developments, there are simply too many breaches, gaps and questions around the
viability of the currently proposed Tulsequah Project for TRTFN to continue on
as though we are meaningfully meeting the requirements set out in the
agreements and legislation," according to TRTFN's web release.
Chieftain announced in June that it would shut down indefinitely operation of
its water treatment plant at the Tulsequah Chief Mine (goo.gl/9293J). The plant
was built to treat historic acid mine runoff. This indefinite closure "is of
extreme concern to the TRTFN," according to its web release.
Chieftain received a discharge permit for its treatment facility in April
(goo.gl/Ma2Yg) and announced it would violate that permit less than three
months later.
TRTFN list the water treatment facility's shutdown as another reason to cool
its relationship with Chieftain.
Chieftain has said its investors require road access to the Tulsequah Chief
Mine site, preferring the mining operation not rely on spotty barge access on
the Taku River.
Chieftain Metals contracted from Stantec Consulting Ltd. of British Columbia to
complete a construction and operations activities report application to amend
British Columbia Environmental Assessment Certificate M02-01, dated June 6.
According to the report Chieftain planned to begin road construction in late
2012 or early 2013.
In the last three months Chieftain has dropped from over $4 per share to close
Friday at $2.60. The 52-week high was $5.14.
Chieftain Metals did not respond by press time.
. Contact reporter Russell Stigall at 523-2276 or at
russell.stig...@juneauempire.com.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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