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Invitation to Workshop & Potluck Lunch - Tuesday, May 15th, 9:30 a.m.to 1 p.m., Willams Lake - RSVP

Tsilhqot’in National Government - May 8, 2012

Attn: First Nations leaders, Community Members and Community,
Conservation & Social Justice Organizations

To Whom it may concern,

Please regard this email as an invitation to attend a workshop & potluck
lunch hosted by the Tsilhqot’in National Government & being facilitated
by Dr. Joan Kuyek, formerly the National Coordinator for MiningWatch
Canada. Joan is an expert on the socioeconomic costs/benefits of mining
in rural communities. She has written several books, some of which
focus on community organizing
(http://www.fernwoodpublishing.ca/community &
http://rabble.ca/books/reviews/2011/11/joan-kuyek-community-organizing).
Joan is an instructor at Carleton University & Queens University and is
an inspiring speaker who understands what it means to live and work in
rural Canada (she lived for many years in Sudbury, Ontario - Canada’s
Nickel town).

The purpose of the workshop is to advance a discussion about how to
improve relations and collaborations between communities (First Nations
and non-First Nations, regional and local) in opposition to the
so-called “New” Prosperity mine proposal, and how to organize ahead of
the Public Hearings that will occur later in 2012. This is an ideal
opportunity if you have wondered about the various ways in which you can
help. We hope to end the discussion with some concrete ideas for
follow-up.

You have been invited because of your participation in the last panel
hearings, attendance at previous meetings hosted by TNG, or your
organization’s work on issues of common concern (e.g. First Nations
Governments, conservation, social justice, etc.). Please feel free to
bring a friend or friends who may also be interested in learning more
about Teztan Biny/Fish Lake, its environs and the beautiful Upper Taseko
region, and how it is in all of our interest to protect the pristine
headwaters of the Fraser.

Details:
Location: Central Cariboo Arts and Culture Society (old Firehall) on
Fourth Avenue North, Williams Lake

Date & Time: Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 9:30am-12pm, followed by a
potluck lunch (12pm-1pm).

Food: The potluck lunch is intended as an opportunity to share food and
have more informal discussions. When thinking of what to bring, please
keep in mind that access to refrigeration is limited and that some of
the food will be sitting for several hours. The Tsilhqot’in National
Government will provide coffee and plates/cutlery.

We’d appreciate a RSVP by Thursday May 10th or early on Friday May 11th
(by email or phone: jlaplante@tsilhqotin.ca or 250-392-3918).

Please call if you have any questions. Kids are welcome!

Kind regards,

JP Laplante, B.Sc., B.I.T.
Mining, Oil and Gas Manager
Tsilhqot’in National Government
253 Fourth Avenue North
Williams Lake BC V2G 4T4
Tel: 250-392-3918 (If Unanswered, Press 3, then 9)
Fax: 250-398-5798
Email: jlaplante@tsilhqotin.ca <mailto:jlaplante@tsilhqotin.ca>
www.tsilhqotin.ca <http://www.tsilhqotin.ca/>
Toll Free: 1-877-512-2674

R.A.V.E.N Newsletter

March 21, 2012

Dear RAVEN friends and supporters,

The ongoing effort to preserve Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) continues in many ways - and there have been a few developments to share. One of the latest efforts is to spread word of this issue to a new, international audience. Water is everyone’s right. And the destruction of a pristine ecosystem and watershed plus the trampling of indigenous rights deserve world-wide attention.

TAKING TEZTAN BINY TO THE WORLD:
Xeni Gwet’in Chief Marilyn Baptiste recently returned from Geneva where she presented the Tsilhqot’in report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (UN-CERD) 80th Session. The Tsilhqot’in report focused on the fight to protect Teztan Biny and the surrounding environment and the underlying legal situation which ignores First Nations rights and title.

“The Tsilhqot’in are prepared to go to the international level to protect our Nation’s rights and title,” said Chief Joe Alphonse, Chair of the Tsilhqot’in National Government. “In the case of the rebid Prosperity Mine proposal, we feel that we’ve nearly exhausted every possible avenue to resolve this at the local level, though we will continue to take our fight to the new federal Panel review.”

Also this week, RAVEN is sponsoring Blaine Grinder of Tl’etinqox (one of the six communities of the Tsilhqot’in Nation)to attend and present at the World Water Forum 6, in Marseille France. The conference runs March 12-17, 2012. In an effort to educate and reach out to a new audience, Blaine is “looking to support others in their fight for clean water, get the message out there internationally to keep the Canadian Government accountable for their actions, and we are also requesting to have speakers during our environmental panel hearings on our behalf, letters and emails to CEAA as well. Also the new Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent, the Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper, please email on our behalf to tell them to protect Teztan Biny (Fish Lake) and once again make the right decision to reject the new prosperity proposal.”

Blaine has written an initial blog, and will be adding more soon from his experience at the conference.

SETTLEMENT BETWEEN TNG AND TML

Taseko AGM rally 4 TNG and TML have settled the two court cases (Taseko’s Civil Claim against Chief Marilyn and others, and Chief Marilyn’s Petition challenging the permits) relating to the exploration program. Taseko will commence a reduced scope of work that will be undertaken for the sole purposes of obtaining information required for the Federal environmental assessment of the proposed New Prosperity Project. On this basis, the parties have agreed not to further pursue existing legal actions.

TNG and the Tsilhqot’in remain 100% committed to opposing and defeating the New Prosperity Project.

TNG issued a news release February 29, 2012 to clarify their position. Stating the nation is determined to fight the “new” Prosperity proposal, the band goes on to say, “However, for the sole purpose of providing information to the federal environmental assessment process, the Tsilhqot’in have agreed to allow TML to carry out a significantly reduced exploration program under strict conditions.”

TNG RESPONSE TO TASEKO DEFAMATION LAWSUIT

You may have read that Taseko has launched a defamation suit against the Wilderness Committee over statements the environmental group made about the New Prosperity Mine on their (Wilderness Committee’s) website and Facebook page.

Many eNGOs consider this claim to be a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) suit. Friends of the Nemaiah recently reported this suit as indicative of an overly aggressive attitude to those who oppose the New Prosperity project, which has been described as the “wrong mine in the wrong place.”

In response, Joe Foy of the Wilderness Committee stated, “We have a responsibility to be reasonable and work within the law, with respect to Taseko Mines, but we also have a responsibility as a B.C. environmental group to stand up for our values and speak truths and we believe this mine should not proceed…..The high environmental risk and long-term environmental risks, and impact on human rights in respect to the Tsilhqot’in Nation, we strongly and proudly oppose this mine and will do so with all our abilities.”

TNG issued a response in a recent press release, suggesting that Taseko considering suing themselves for similar statements made by them in the first round of Panel hearings:

“Perhaps it intends to sue its own Vice President – Brian Battison – who on March 22, 2010, on the opening day of the review hearings, stated: “Developing Prosperity means draining Fish Lake. We wish it were otherwise. We searched hard for a different way. A way to retain the lake and have the mine. But there is no viable alternative. The lake and the deposit sit side by side. It is not possible to have one without the loss of the other.”

“Or might it sue its VP of Engineering, Scott Jones, who told those hearings: “What happens to the water quality in Fish Lake, if you try and preserve that body of water with the tailings facility right up against it, is that over time the water quality in Fish Lake will become equivalent to the water quality in the pore water of the tailings facility, particularly when it’s close. You might be able to delay that by moving the tailings facility farther away to Fish Creek South. You may even be able to minimize that, reduce it by mitigation measures that could be applied. But eventually that water quality will change.”

“These statements are on the public record, and while TML might not wish the public to be reminded of them, it seems unfair to sue an NGO for raising criticisms similar to those from the independent panel and the company itself.”

MiningWatch Canada issued this statement: “Though we regret the actions of Taseko against the Wilderness Committee, it’s honestly not that big a surprise that Taseko would act this way…..Over the course of the environmental assessment we have observed a number of actions that Taseko has taken that, in our view, are not consistent with good practices for building trust and positive relationships with stakeholders.”

CUFTP poster 2012 FIRST ANNUAL CREATIVELY UNITED FOR THE PLANET FESTIVAL - April 20 - 22 in Victoria, BC

If you are in or near Victoria for Earth Week, please come to this amazing new festival! RAVEN will be participating/benefitting from the gathering of artists who are donating their talents to help the smaller charities who “do the hero work” in our communities. Brainchild of local award-winning photographer Frances Litman, the festival will start with a Friday night dance party. Several artists including Ann Mortifee, Robert Batemen, the Soul Shakers, Paul Horn, and the Gettin’ Higher Choir will donate their time to raise awareness of the many issues represented by the charities. Funds raised will go to Sierra Club of BC, Western Wilderness Committee, Dogwood Initiative, Ancient Forest Alliance, the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team, BC Land Conservancy, Wild Arc, RAVEN, Oases Conservation Society, Peace Valley Environment Association, Child and Nature Alliance, Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and YES B.C.

RAVEN will have a booth at the event, and our directors and volunteers will be taking turns so please drop by to visit. This is a great chance for us and all the other worthy groups to “Be seen and be significant!” Many events are free, and tickets are on sale now for those events that have a cost. You can find out more at the festival website.

fishlake_aerial_1 PREPARING FOR THE UPCOMING FEDERAL REVIEW HEARINGS

The final terms of reference for the CEAA panel are yet to be released. However, preliminary quotes have been obtained by some of the scienctific analysts who will be called to work on this. Please consider donating to cover some of these crucial (and costly) reports. Without them, the Tsilhqot’in will not be able to present the best evidence at the hearing.

Thank you to all those who have recently contributed! 100% of your donations will go toward the costs incurred by the band.

With warm wishes,
Susan Smitten, Executive Director

Susan Smitten, Executive Director
RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values &Environmental Needs)
2nd floor, 844 Courtney Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1C4
t. 250.383.2331
f. 250.380.6560
www.raventrust.com
Twitter: @RAVENtrust

http://sms.vsip.ca/mailings/74/76f69853cf12bf5ec1d9e90cccce3cd4/4f5fa8ef295e6/

Taseko Lawsuit Won’t Stop Opposition to “New” Prosperity Mine Project

MiningWatch Canada - Press Release - March 06, 2012

(Ottawa) MiningWatch Canada regrets that Taseko Mines Ltd. has initiated a lawsuit against the Western Canada Wilderness Committee for allegedly making defamatory and inaccurate comments on Taseko’s proposed “New Prosperity” project. Having been a vocal critic of the project, we would like to assure Taseko, our allies and potential investors that we will continue to research and openly criticize and oppose this project that continues to face stiff opposition from First Nations, environmental, and social justice groups. The reasons for this opposition are many and have been repeated often. We provide a short list below:

After an extensive review of the original proposed project, including a suite of alternative mine plans, a federal review panel concluded in July of 2010 that the earlier version of the project would have numerous significant adverse effects that could not be mitigated.
MiningWatch’s review of the latest project description for the “New” Prosperity project leads us to conclude that the currently proposed project is not significantly different from an alternative mine development plan discredited in the previous federal environmental assessment process.*
Regardless of the specific choice of mine plan it is anticipated that important sensitive natural habitats and cultural areas will be destroyed or degraded by the mine.
The project continues to be opposed by the potentially affected First Nations, who in turn have the support of regional and national First Nations organizations.
The proposed mine is in an area where the Tŝilhqot’in Nation has a proven, Constitutionally-protected Aboriginal right to hunt and trap, and where the Tŝilhqot’in Nation claims Aboriginal title in litigation that is still before the courts.

Based on these facts, MiningWatch believes that the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Phillip Stewart put it well when he stated that the proposed mine is “the wrong project in the wrong place owned by the wrong company.”

The lawsuit also comes after a successful campaign led by another environmental group, the Sierra Club of BC, that encouraged people to submit comments on the draft guidelines and review the panel’s terms of reference. Over 1,500 people submitted comments using the Sierra Club’s website.

“Though we regret the actions of Taseko against the Wilderness Committee, it’s honestly not that big a surprise that Taseko would act this way” observed Ramsey Hart, MiningWatch’s Canada Program Coordinator. “Over the course of the environmental assessment we have observed a number of actions that Taseko has taken that, in our view, are not consistent with good practices for building trust and positive relationships with stakeholders.” These actions include:

Pressuring the BC government to withdraw from a joint review panel process supported by First Nations and environmental groups and “go it alone” in 2008.
An attempt to have one of the original federal review panel members, Naline Morin, a First Nations woman with a career working in the mining industry, removed on the presumption of bias.
An attempt to prevent showing of the video Blue Gold during the review panel hearings. The video was created for the Tŝilhqot’in Nation in order to explain their connection to the land where the project is located, to give voice to their concerns and show images of the area to the panel members.

Hart, who participated in the first review process, further comments that, “We remain committed to speaking out about this project. Based on the information we’ve seen to date, we are confident in our analysis and in the many as-yet unresolved problems we and others have identified.” MiningWatch will continue its collaboration with other NGOs and will continue to work in solidarity with the Tŝilhqot’in and Esketemc First Nations in their opposition.

_____________

* Following MiningWatch’s review of the latest project description for the “New” Prosperity mine, we are of the opinion that the revised project was already considered by the first federal review panel (as alternative Mine Development Plan 2). At page 50 of its report, the original panel stated that it “agrees with the observations made by [Taseko] and Environment Canada that Mine Development Plans 1 and 2 would result in greater long-term environmental risk” than the original “preferred” alternative (namely, the alternative rejected by the original panel in July 2010 and by the Government of Canada in November 2010).

– 30 –

For more information contact:

Ramsey Hart, Canada Program Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada (613) 298-4745 (cell)

http://www.miningwatch.ca/news/taseko-lawsuit-won-t-stop-opposition-new-prosperity-mine-project

Taseko Lawsuit Won’t Stop Opposition to “New” Prosperity Mine Project

MiningWatch Canada - March 6, 2012

(Ottawa) MiningWatch Canada regrets that Taseko Mines Ltd. has initiated a lawsuit against the Western Canada Wilderness Committee for allegedly making defamatory and inaccurate comments on Taseko’s proposed “New Prosperity” project. Having been a vocal critic of the project, we would like to assure Taseko, our allies and potential investors that we will continue to research and openly criticize and oppose this project that continues to face stiff opposition from First Nations, environmental, and social justice groups. The reasons for this opposition are many and have been repeated often. We provide a short list below:

After an extensive review of the original proposed project, including a suite of alternative mine plans, a federal review panel concluded in July of 2010 that the earlier version of the project would have numerous significant adverse effects that could not be mitigated.
MiningWatch’s review of the latest project description for the “New” Prosperity project leads us to conclude that the currently proposed project is not significantly different from an alternative mine development plan discredited in the previous federal environmental assessment process.*
Regardless of the specific choice of mine plan it is anticipated that important sensitive natural habitats and cultural areas will be destroyed or degraded by the mine.
The project continues to be opposed by the potentially affected First Nations, who in turn have the support of regional and national First Nations organizations.
The proposed mine is in an area where the Tŝilhqot’in Nation has a proven, Constitutionally-protected Aboriginal right to hunt and trap, and where the Tŝilhqot’in Nation claims Aboriginal title in litigation that is still before the courts.

Based on these facts, MiningWatch believes that the Union of BC Indian Chiefs Grand Chief Phillip Stewart put it well when he stated that the proposed mine is “the wrong project in the wrong place owned by the wrong company.”

The lawsuit also comes after a successful campaign led by another environmental group, the Sierra Club of BC, that encouraged people to submit comments on the draft guidelines and review the panel’s terms of reference. Over 1,500 people submitted comments using the Sierra Club’s website.

“Though we regret the actions of Taseko against the Wilderness Committee, it’s honestly not that big a surprise that Taseko would act this way” observed Ramsey Hart, MiningWatch’s Canada Program Coordinator. “Over the course of the environmental assessment we have observed a number of actions that Taseko has taken that, in our view, are not consistent with good practices for building trust and positive relationships with stakeholders.” These actions include:

Pressuring the BC government to withdraw from a joint review panel process supported by First Nations and environmental groups and “go it alone” in 2008.
An attempt to have one of the original federal review panel members, Naline Morin, a First Nations woman with a career working in the mining industry, removed on the presumption of bias.
An attempt to prevent showing of the video Blue Gold during the review panel hearings. The video was created for the Tŝilhqot’in Nation in order to explain their connection to the land where the project is located, to give voice to their concerns and show images of the area to the panel members.

Hart, who participated in the first review process, further comments that, “We remain committed to speaking out about this project. Based on the information we’ve seen to date, we are confident in our analysis and in the many as-yet unresolved problems we and others have identified.” MiningWatch will continue its collaboration with other NGOs and will continue to work in solidarity with the Tŝilhqot’in and Esketemc First Nations in their opposition.

_____________

* Following MiningWatch’s review of the latest project description for the “New” Prosperity mine, we are of the opinion that the revised project was already considered by the first federal review panel (as alternative Mine Development Plan 2). At page 50 of its report, the original panel stated that it “agrees with the observations made by [Taseko] and Environment Canada that Mine Development Plans 1 and 2 would result in greater long-term environmental risk” than the original “preferred” alternative (namely, the alternative rejected by the original panel in July 2010 and by the Government of Canada in November 2010).

– 30 –

For more information contact:

Ramsey Hart, Canada Program Coordinator, MiningWatch Canada (613) 298-4745 (cell)

http://www.miningwatch.ca/news/taseko-lawsuit-won-t-stop-opposition-new-prosperity-mine-project

Waters of the World Threatened By Dumping of 180M Tonnes of Toxic Mine Waste

Washington/Ottawa (PRWEB) February 28, 2012

Earthworks/MiningWatch Canada name endangered waters and companies responsible

“In its August 2011 project description, Taseko Mines Ltd. proposed to the federal Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to reclassify Little Fish Lake and Fish Creek in British Columbia as a tailings impoundment for its proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine. The watershed is home to grizzly bear and highly productive rainbow trout, and is an important cultural area for the Tsilhqot’in People. After being refused environmental approvals for the past 17 years, the company has re-applied with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency with plans to build a tailings impoundment to dispose of 480 million tons of tailings and 240 million tons of waste rock in the basin of the creek and lake, burying the ecosystems under a hundred meters of waste.”

http://www.prweb.com/releases/mining_waste/troubled_waters/prweb9227434.htm

Waters of the World Threatened By Dumping of 180M Tonnes of Toxic Mine Waste

Earthworks - February 28, 2012

Earthworks/MiningWatch Canada name endangered waters and companies responsible

February 11, 2012

British Columbia: Tsilhqot’in National Government - No To Prosperity Mine

The Tsilhqot’in National Government has called on the Federal government to halt the continuous drain on everyone’s time and resources and to reject Taseko Mines Ltd’s (TML) second rebid for the Prosperity Mine project.

“If the Canadian government wants to reduce its deficit, then cancel this process. It will prevent the frivolous spending of tax money consistently being wasted to review a mine that will not go through,” said TNG Tribal Chair Chief Joe Alphonse. “Today’s announcement by the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency merely finds that the company has finally completed their project description up to the point where a next step could be considered. The fact remains that this bid, which was presented to the previous Expert Panel and deemed worse than the original plan, fails to address any of the environmentally scathing issues that led to the first proposal being rejected.”

“Surrounding our sacred lake with an open pit mine, preventing access to it for 33 or more years, destroying its fish spawning grounds and most likely destroying the lake later as it receives toxic tailings or the mine expands is clearly not an improvement,” said Marilyn Baptiste, Chief, Xeni Gwet’in.

http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=13935%3Abritish-columbia-tsilhqotin-national-government-no-to-prosperity-mine&catid=37&Itemid=77

Hearings get underway for another controversial B.C. project: Prosperity mine

Winnipeg Free Press - January 29, 2012

Breaking News

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

By: Dene Moore, The Canadian Press

Posted: 01/29/2012 3:01 AM | Comments: 1 (including replies) | Last Modified: 01/29/2012 9:45 AM

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. - With all eyes on hearings for the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline that would link Alberta’s oil sands to tankers on the B.C. coast, a federal environmental review of another contentious B.C. project is quietly getting underway.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency has released guidelines and terms of reference that will form the framework for an environmental review of Taseko Mines Ltd.’s (TSX:TKO) proposed Prosperity gold and copper mine in the B.C. Interior.

The agency is seeking comments on the documents until Feb. 22.

But the approach of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government toward the federal hearings on the Northern Gateway doesn’t give First Nations opponents much faith in the environmental review of the mine.

“We feel the writing’s on the wall,” Chief Joe Alphonse, leader of the Tsilqhot’in National Government, said in an interview.

“Mr. Harper is making statements around the Enbridge project that anyone opposing the project is an enemy of Canada. That’s the same situation.”

Alphonse said he fears that approval of the Prosperity Mine, 125 kilometres southwest of Williams Lake, B.C., is a foregone conclusion.

The Tsilqhot’in will still take part in the review, however, “as distasteful as that might be,” Alphonse said.

“Our position is that we have to participate to protect our interests… we still have to go through the motions because, at the end of the day, when that political process fails us, we still have to turn to the courts for justice and the moment we walk into a courtroom they’re going to tell us: you had to participate.”

Taseko’s original proposal for the $1.5-billion project was accepted by the province but rejected by a federal environmental panel last year because the company wanted to drain Fish Lake for use as a tailings pond.

The revised proposal would see the company spend $300 million to build its own tailings pond, rather than use the trout-bearing lake, known to local First Nations as Tetzan Biny.

In December, the Tsilqhot’in First Nation was granted a court injunction to stop Taseko from undertaking exploratory work on the mine pending the review.

Although the Tsilqhot’in will participate in the review, the band did not apply for money from a federal fund for aboriginal groups to participate, nor did most other First Nations groups in the area.

The federal agency announced last week that nine groups will split nearly $138,000 in federal funding to participate in the review.

But while more than $200,000 was available to aboriginal groups to allow them to participate, only one group made an application. The Esketemc First Nation asked for and received $27,800.

The Metis Nation of British Columbia, whose application was transferred from a general funding program, will also receive $19,000.

Seven other interest groups will receive a total of $91,000 from the separate, general participant funding program, including Friends of Nemaiah Valley, which will receive $19,000, and the Sierra Club of British Columbia, which will receive $18,600.

MiningWatch Canada, the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, Share the Cariboo-Chilcotin Resources Society, and the Environmental Mining Education Foundation will also receive funds, as well as an individual named Federico G. Osorio.

Brian Battison, vice-president of corporate affairs for Taseko, said the company is looking at the guidelines and preparing its response, which is “a tremendous amount of work.”

Battison said much of the original mine proposal was accepted by the first review panel, and those aspects will not have to be reviewed again. What has changed are the two aspects around the use of Fish Lake as a tailings pond.

“It’s a significant difference. It’s a $300-million difference in terms of cost, to save the lake.”

Battison said the project has community support in the Cariboo region, where it will have a significant economic impact.

Agency spokesperson Lucille Jamault said members of the public have until Feb. 22 to submit written comments on the draft guidelines and the terms of reference, then the next step will be for the federal environment minister to name the panel, which was given a year to complete the review when it was announced last November.

A band election in Tsi Del Del, in Alexis Creek, earlier this month served as a referendum of sorts on the issue. Chief Percy Guichon, a vocal critic of the mine development, soundly defeated a challenger who was in favour of the mine in a campaign dominated by the issue.

Taseko says Prosperity - the largest undeveloped gold-copper deposit in Canada and seventh largest in the world - will generate 71,000 jobs over the course of its operation and put $10 billion in government coffers.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/hearings-get-underway-for-another-controversial-bc-project-prosperity-mine-138282659.html

New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project Public Comment Period and Participant Funding

CNW Canada News Wire - January 23, 2012 3:36 PM

New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project Public Comment Period and Participant Funding

OTTAWA, Jan. 23, 2012 /CNW/ - The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (the Agency) today announced the start of a public comment period on two documents related to the environmental assessment of the New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine project in British Columbia.

The Agency invites the public to comment on the draft environmental impact statement (EIS) guidelines and the draft terms of reference for the review panel. The guidelines provide direction to the proponent and identify the information that is required in the environmental impact statement. The terms of reference establish the mandate and authorities of the review panel, as well as the procedures and timelines for the review.

The public is invited to submit written comments on both documents to the Agency in either official language by February 22, 2012. After taking public comments into consideration, the guidelines and the terms of reference will be finalized and made public.

The draft EIS guidelines, the draft terms of reference as well as additional information on the project are available in the Canadian Environmental Assessment Registry on the Agency’s Web site at www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca under reference # 11-05-63928.

To submit comments, obtain a copy of the documents or to register as an interested party and be kept informed of the panel review process activities, contact:

Livain Michaud, Panel Manager
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
160 Elgin Street, 22nd Floor, Ottawa ON K1A 0H3
Tel.: 613-948-1359 / 1-866-582-1884 / Fax: 613-957-0941
NewProsperityRevie w@ceaa-acee.gc.ca

Participant Funding
The Agency has awarded a total of $91,000 to seven applicants to support their participation in the environmental review of the project. The funding recipients are Federico G. Osorio, the Friends of Nemaiah Valley, MiningWatch Canada, the Share the Cariboo - Chilcotin Resources Society, the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce, the Sierra Club British Columbia, and the Environmental Mining Education Foundation.

The funding is provided to help recipients prepare for and participate in the upcoming steps of the review process, including reviewing and commenting on the draft EIS guidelines and panel terms of reference, the EIS and participating in public hearings.

A committee independent of the review process assessed the applications and made recommendations on funding awards. The committee’s report is available on the public registry noted above.

Taseko Mines Ltd. proposes the construction and operation of a large open pit gold-copper mine development, approximately 125 km southwest of Williams Lake, B.C.

The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency administers the federal environmental assessment process, which identifies the environmental effects of proposed projects and measures to address those effects, in support of sustainable development.

For further information:

Media may contact:
Lucille Jamault
Manager, Communications
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Tel.: 613-957-0434

New Prosperity Gold-Copper Mine Project Public Comment Period and Participant Funding

CNW Canada News Wire - January 23, 2012