Taseko Mines would do well to remember the warnings of the Ides of March. In resubmitting its environmental impact statement for its “New Prosperity” mine plan, following the scathing comments and dozens of revisions requested by various government departments, the company appears to assume all is well and that they will once again march forward despite the protests of those who see this mine still as it was when first rejected – a project that will damage forever a remarkable and sacred area, significant watershed and grizzly habitat, leaving in its wake profits for the investors and perpetual damage, risk of ruined rivers, and toxic remains (that must be maintained forever) for the rest of us.
To clarify the metaphor, for those who may have read their Shakespeare under duress in a high school literature class, the Ides of March is the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 B.C.E., stabbed 23 times in the Roman Senate by a group of conspirators led by Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus. He had a warning that his future was doomed. But Caesar strode, some might say arrogantly, to the theatre that day and chirped to the seer who had prophesied his demise that “The Ides of March have come,” as if to say – so much for that bit of wisdom. To which the seer responded, “Aye, Caesar, but not gone.” 
The resubmission seems also to be a tossing off the concerns of the Tsilhqot’in and their legal advisors, scientists, environmentalists – who have for months been asking to get detailed information about this new plan. The company claims it answered each one of the requests for additional information but the Xeni Gwet’in say the answers fall far short of what is needed. So, the company now strides toward public hearings as if in line to rule the day. However, the public can now weigh in. And there will be hearings, likely in May. Newly re-elected Chief Roger William will rally his people. And there will be challenges to this. Not the conspiratorial sort of which Brutus needed to resort, but reasoned, thoughtful, and factual challenges that expose the truth of what this mine will mean. The day is not over. Not by a long shot.
——————————————————————
Comments on the latest submissions/reports from the company are due by Saturday, March 16. IF the Panel does not issue further information requests, it will likely mean that the community and technical hearings will take place in May 2013.
Below is the alert from the CEAA panel:
Subject: New Prosperity Project – Information Request Responses submitted by Taseko
Dear Registered Parties:
On November 26 and December 10, 2012, the Federal Review Panel responsible for assessing the New Prosperity Project issued information requests to Taseko Mines Ltd. requesting additional information on the Project. The Panel received the responses to the information requests today from Taseko Mines Ltd. The responses can be found on the registry site for the Project at:http://ceaa.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=86597
The Federal Panel is initiating a 15-day public comment period on the responses provided.Comments on the responses must be submitted in writing by March 16, 2013 for consideration by the Panel. The Public Notice regarding the public comment period can be found at:http://ceaa.gc.ca/050/document-eng.cfm?document=86627
Posted by Susan Smitten Tuesday Mar 05, 2013 14:35
Categories: Fish Lake, Teztan Biny | Tags:
