Nanika diversion resurfaces “Ex-Alcan officials involved * TERRACE — Alcan is denying any connection to a company that has floated a new proposal to divert the Nanika River. Vera Resource Management . Corporation pitched the idea of diverting the Nanika to the _ Gitksan-Wet’suwet’en Govern- ment Commission a year apo, -Gitksan leaders subsequently umed down the proposal. 2) The Nanika proposal was one “Of the most controversial parts of ‘Alcan’s original plan for the Kemano hydro-electric project - because it would divert approxi- “mately five per cent of the Skeena watershed into the Nechako reser- voir, “The river is located southwest of Houston and. flows into the : Bulkley River. “Alcan telinguished thé rights to the Nanika when it signed a 1987 deal giving the company approval to carry out the Kemano Comple- tion Project, “ Mera’s four principals include two retired Alcan executives and - the president of Triton Environ- “mental Consultants who studied the Nanika in the 1980s and who remains one of the main con- tractors for Alcan on Kemano. ~ Alcan: spokesman Les Holroyd said Alcan has only just become aware of the proposal and denied Suggestions that Vera is acting as TAP an agent for Alcan, “Alcan has no connection ; whatsoever with Vera and only learned of its existence in carly - December 1992,” Holroyd said dna statement issued last week. es “Alcari disclaims any knowl- “edge « or involvement in any man- ~ per. with this proposal or with its “sponsors (Vera and the Gitksan- Wet! suwet’en). Alcan does not “TERRACE — The public will “get a chance to take a close look at the city’s new land use plan next month. “Administrator Bob Hallsor said the week commencing Feb. 15 is ibe tentative date for a public open house, ‘On display at the open ‘house will be maps of proposed zoning changes to be incorporated in ‘a new community plan and details of specifi ic policies relating to those zonings. Hallsor said the idea was’ people could drop in, look over the in- formation and then out ant ques- tions they had to city staff and council members on hand, “Tt will be very informal, ”* he ' explained. Those taking in the open house will also be handed a question- naire to fill out. The responses will be considered when council makes adjustments to the draft land use plan. ‘The amended version would then be put to a formal public hearing, likely in Jate March, a -_ “i: ~—S , = a welcome any initiatives aimed at ressurecting the Nanika diversion project.’’ Holroyd says the relinqnish- ment of rights to the Nanika was one of the main conditions for ap- proval of Kemana, adding that Alcan considers it to be legally binding, Gitanyow chief councillor El- mer Derrick said Vera was just one of many business proposals presented to the Gitksan- Wet'suvet'en Government Com- mission last year. *It-didn’t go anywhere,’’ Der- rick said, explaining that Wet’suwet’en chiefs from the Nanika-Morice area tuned down the proposal affer hearing the company’s presentation. But Brian Hemingway — a for- mer Alcan public relations exccu- tive and one of the directors of Vera — said the idea originated with the Gilksan and Wet’suwet’en, nol Vera. _ "We were asked by them to make a presentation of some in- formation,’ Hemingway — said. “It’s really their proposal. We were just lo act as consultants on it,’ Rivers Defence Coalition spokesman Pat Moss called the connections “‘very interesting’’ but says she’s not as concemed aboul the Vera proposal as. she was initially. ‘Is hard to believe they really thought they could get this through,’’ she said. ‘Moss said she believes the Gitksan were involved because the company thoughi its only chance of getting approval from Victoria was if it resulted in jobs for natives. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 13, 1993 - Page A3 ‘ around 2:15 a.m. CHARRED WRECKAGE of an old woodstove yields clues for fire fighters Dave Jephson, Bill Warcup and chief Bob Bec- nae: kett. It's believed the fire in the house on Lanfear started when a stack of firewood fell over against the stove, Father, son escape blaze House had no smoke detector TERRACE — A 47-year-old Terrace man is in an Edmonton hospital recovering from burns suffered in a house fire here last week. Robert Robertson and his 15- year-old son Kenneth narrowly escaped from the blaze Jan. 3. Fire chief Bab Beckett said the fire apparently started near the woodstove in «the three- bedroom home on Lanfear Drive, The extreme heal woke. the boy, who alerted his father. The pair went back to the boy’s bedroon, smashed the window and escaped, The fam- ily dog perished in the fire. Beckett said firefighters be- lieve a piece of wood rolled down against the stove and ig- ited, The blaze spread quickly and the house was completely ablaze after the flames reached the piles of newspaper and magazines stored in the allic, The house did nol have, a smoke detector. ‘Two people almost lost their lives here,’’ Beckett said. “They came this close,” A smoke alarm could have reduced their injurics . and might have saved their house, Beckett added, “Its amazing they lived through it,’’ he said. “But a ten-dollar investment could have made a considerable dil- ference for this family.”’ Beckett called for legislation making smoke detectors mandatory in all homes. Building codes require new homes to have smoke detec- tors, but there is no such re- quirement for existing homes built prior to 1976, Robertson, who- suffered second- and third-degree burns to 36 per cent of his body, is recoyering in the bum unil of Edmonton’s + University Hospi- tal, His son was treated here for. his second degree burns and “was released, ~ sin you ou the very best _ inthe New Year Back Eddy’s Pub ‘Norm's Auto Refinishing Ltd. THANK YOU Norm Mantel would like to thank all his. customers from Terrace and the Northwest for their loyal support for the past 18 % years, Maintaining employment of all shop teonnictans ensures you of continued quality work and friendly service. ‘Sincerely, : Norm Mantel Norm congratulates Terrace Totem Ford on their recent purchase of Norm’s Auto Refinishing Ltd. and wishes new manager George Gough much success. =" ees %; D ‘e - “Cau watch the Super Bowl _ _ on our big screen Sunday Jan. 31° Sey iz 0 amine L . Sun, - Thurs. Fri’& Sat. 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