| Pressure to Kill Tulsequah Chief Mine | 13 June 05 |
 International pressure is mounting on Canada's Fisheries Minister Geoff Regan to kill a mining proposal in northern British Columbia; Alaska State Senator Kim Elton and House Representative Beth Kerttula, both Democrats, wrote to Mr. Regan, May 26, 2005 asking him not to approve the mine "until outstanding technical and financial issues have been addressed."Vancouver-based Redfern Resources Corp. president Terry Chandler was quoted last month in the Juneau Empire that his company needs to conduct more mineral exploration this summer. The company announced in mid-May that new tests indicated the proposed mine, in the Taku River watershed that overlaps into Alaska, would involve higher construction and operating costs than anticipated, as well as yield lower mineral resources of gold, silver, copper and zinc. The American politicians are worried that if the mine goes ahead and Redfern declares bankruptcy, there won't be anyone left to compensate Alaskan fishermen for damages. Despite the company's recent announcement Canada's Department of Fisheries and Oceans is currently considering granting federal permits allowing Redfern to build a 160 km road zigzagging through countless fish-bearing lakes and rivers that would lead to the mine in northern British Columbia. The B.C. Government has already approved the mine. Meanwhile, environmental groups are worried that Redfern will likely miss its deadline of June 30, 2005 to clean up toxins spilling out of the old existing mine into the Taku River watershed. View the June 6, 2005 The Hill Times article View previous Manitoba Wildlands' news articles regarding the Tulsequah Chief Mine: May 31, 2005 - Tulsequah Chief Mine Put On Hold March 3, 2005 - Plans to Reopen Mine Opposed Source: The Hill Times |
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