ts og . reduce the bill it may face - by monitors and receivers | argued the $3.9 million ap-, ' praised value for the pulp ; A2- The Terrace Standard, Wecnesday, January 19, 2005 NDP’ rip into approval for Taku River mine By J EFF NAGEL ‘QUESTIONS are being asked about the | integrity of a federal review of plans lo ~ reopen the Tulsequah Chief mine in the far northwest. The project. got a tentative green light from the Department of Fisheries _and ‘Oceans. ‘Jaa. 5. - = ... But Skeena_ MP ‘Nathan Cullen and — other New Democrats in Ottawa accuse * DFO officials of relaxing their probe of . the possible erivironmental impacts of _ the mine’s proposed 160-kilometre ac- cess road. The mine ‘would close after eight years, when the road is supposed to be ‘decommissioned. , . . But Cullen and others want the fed- eral review to consider the possibility the road may continue to be used, ex- posing the Taku River wilderness arca to longer term effects. “Once an access road is opened up like this, the history in B.C. shows they ‘don’t tend to decommission them,” Cullen said. New mines could be de- veloped i in'the area, he said. .“T would rather people just be hon- est ‘about what their intentions are,” he . added. “It just doesn’t make sense to create a 160- kilometre road for just an. ei eight-year mine.” NDP. ‘fisheries critic Peter Stoffer called on Ottawa to halt the assessment . and. organize a. new review, alleging lobbyists for Redfern Resources Ltd. " had undue influence. Rupert loses bid to appeal Skeena ruling THE CITY of Prince Rupert - has lost a court fight to try to to cover the costs rung up overseeing New .Skeena Forest Products’ for more ‘than a year. Se Bn, 3 Lawyers for Rupert chad milf site was too high. - They, argued for that and “From front Austin to run for NDP you ‘tend to do in politics,” - he added. “Someone else gets the torch and. they. get “baggage” of his association with the former He was elevated to cabinet in the final year of that government after the resignation of Premier Glen Clark "and a series of other ministers. _ Giesbrecht argued he’d bring experi- » ence and an understanding of how to avoid pitfalls that hurt the’ party while in govern- ‘NDP government. ment. But he said most members opted for a fresher voice. “I probably made some enemies, which - and high level lobbying,” he said. ” integrity, of the process has been com- ° other reasons, Prince Rupert shouldn’t have to pay: ini- tial estimates of more than $1 million ofthe total $4.7 million in costs rung up by court-appointed since November 2003. Had they succeeded, other - secured creditors including the’ City of Terrace sould’ have paid a larger share of costs and would-emerge from - the New Skeena bankruptcy He said DFO officials previously committéd to consider impacts ‘if the road remained in use after the mine closed, but said. that changed after a backroom meeting with company reps ‘last spring. Stoffer said the list of DFO con- cerns about the project dropped from 115 items a=year ago to zero in‘ the newly issued report “that reconimends the Tulsequah Chief advance to the de- tailed permitting stage. “Tam deeply concerned ‘that what ‘is meant to be an unbiased environ- mental assessment ‘of this project has ‘been tainted by back room meetings The, promised.” Sue Farlinger, the DFO’s regional : director for habitat, rejects that claim. Although the province gave as- surances the road will» be decommis- sioned, she said the federal assessment examined fish and wildlife habitat im- pacts of the road. _ “To say that we haven't considered that i is completely incorrect,” she said. Farlinger said federal and provin- cial staff ‘and experts are now satisfied that mitigation measures offered by the . company ensure there will. be no sig- nificant adverse effect on habitat as a result of the mine or its road. The preliminary screening decision isn’t expected to become final until af- tera 45-day public review Period | wraps with less money.. monitors ~ Appeal court 0 Loe to do that job.” Skeena and province wide. president Rob Goffinet said. “We are going to hit the Liberals in the northwest hard on May 17,” he said. 50% OFF | Everything In Store Jackets . Dresses + Suits » Sweaters + Pants - Lingerie. _ (Except under garments) 3230 ren Street. Terrace 635- 3666 _ a whole lot of transparency,” Rupert’s argument was first rejected last month by the. B.C. Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal denied the town leave to appeal. Richard Low. found there . was rio basis to allow an ap- - . peal of Supreme Court chief. Justice Donald Brenner's ” earlier decision. He noted the - receiver's. proposed alloca-, NDP MP Nathan Cullen and others spoke . confidently of the prospects for victory in A call for donations from members at the meeting raised $10,325 to help finance the campaign here, constituency association dae ee al mee mg tee OR De ene ee up Feb. 19. If another mine was proposed i in the area leading to longer use of the road, Farlinger added, that new project might reasonably trigger a new environmen- tal review. “This isn’t a carte blanche ‘for anything to happen i in the area,” *she added. Farlinger also rejected: Stoffer’s. claims that Redfern and federal offi- cials have been too cozy. “There was no backroom ing,” she said. “There was a meeting between our deputy minister and the principal of the company. But these are - fairly routine and people in this country have access to officials in the depart- ment at all levels.” She said the mecting didn’t prompt DFO to alter the review. Cullen would not state his personal position on the proposed mine, but said he isn’t comforted by the gov ernment’ S handling of.the issue. “I’m not yet convinced there's been he said... “I'm looking for a lot more before | feel-good about it.” The project has undergone several government reviews by both Victoria and Ottawa in recent years. | ” ‘The province, which has approved Redfern’s plans, is pushing for a swift start to construction. The mine would be:located 6n the Tulsequah River 20 . kilometres upstream of the B.C.-Alaska border; 100 kilometres south of Atlin. tion of costs is only tempo- rary and subject ‘to further adjustment. — a result would be unfair to it will clearly depend on future Justice the court,” Low ‘ruled. “It is: not necessary. to appeal the concerns advanced.” ; Doing so would risk in- terfering withthe liquidation ” process now underway and harm other creditors. —. It’s a further blow. for _ Prince Rupert, owed $25 mil- lion in unpaid property tax. oo "NECHAKO. WING, nethakotheatre. cbt ee ee ee Wu ; It Join today and receive 50% off *- the service fee and find out how to get a free Curves book. Over 8,000 locations worldwide. 250-638-8800 3228 Kalum Street, Terrace Softer based on first visit enrollment, minimum 12 mo. ¢.d. program. Not valid with any other offer. Valid only ar participating locations from 12/27/04-3/G/05, Three referrals required for free book. 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This has been a message for your winter driving safety from Nechako Northcoast Maintenance. “Whether the result pre- dicted by Prince Rupert will . ~ come about and whether such ~ events and future orders of. " present order to address the . | BY Construction, Terrace Ph: (250) 638- 188T A benefit concert and silent auction for the ‘Tsunami relief fund _ Presented. by Terrace Performers Saturday, January 29th | 0pm REM Lee Theatre : Tickets: $40. 00. Available at Misty River Books and Uplands Elementary Starting Friday, January 14th Featuring Dr. Fishy © Aurora Wind Quartet © Classical Act String Ensemble Sophia Palahicky’s Dancers © Kelly Lima * Terrace Community Big Band Northern Conservatory of Dance ¢ Uplands Vocal Ensemble » And Lots More... STANDARD Sale dates: January 1-31, 2005 4643 Park Avenue, Terrace BLIZZARD, DQ, and the ellipse shaped logo are trademarks of Am. 0.0. Corp., Mpls, MN © 2004. Available for a limited time only at participating DQ focations. Printed in USA. 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