May 25, 1996 410 - The Terrace Standard, ae mare cei Wednesday, Teter ner Ga cre hoe HOVERCRAFT used by Cominco and Prime Resources to service the Snip gold mine is being blamed for damaging fish habitat on the Stikine and Iskut rivers, An en- vironmental group has laid charges FREE LAGOSTINA against the two companies. Hovercraft use under fire Mining firms accused of threatening Stikine River fish habitat A HOVERCRAFT used to service a northwest mine is eroding riverbanks and damaging fish habitat, an environ- mental group says. Using a special section of the Fisheries Act, Friends of the Stikine has laid charges against two mining companies involved in the Snip gold mine on the Iskut River, a tributary of the Stikiae, Cominco Ltd. and Prime Resources Group Inc. have been charged with destrution of fish habitat and hannful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat. “The Iskut’s being trashed,”’ society chair Peter Rowlands said. In an affidavit filed last week in Vancouver, the society presented evi- dence that wake caused by the ma- chine is eroding river banks and caus- ing excessive siltation in the river. In use for six years, the hovercraft operates between April and October, making up to four trips a day to haul out concentrate and carry in supplies from Wrangell, Alaska, The socicty alleges the machine poses a threat to the Stikine and Iskul Rivers, which contain important migration, spawning, incubation -and rearing habitat for all five species of Pacific salmon and other types of fish. Key evidence comes from a biologist and society member, Bill Sampson, who has wrilten reports on the hovercraft’s effects, ‘We've been trying to have (the companies and federal fisheries) ac- cept the evidence for. years now,”’ Rowlands said. ‘‘But they said “You can’t prove a thing, there’s no dead fish,’”’ The Snip mine recently changed owners, with Cominco selling its con- trolling share to Prime. Prime now op- erates the mine and is majority-owned by Homestake Canada. Prime president and CEO Ron Parker said there’s no firm scientific proof the hovercraft is damaging the river or fish, A study commissioned by the mine last year was ‘‘inconclusive,’’ he said, and another one will be conducted this year by Seattle-based Pentec Environ- mental in conjunction with the De- partment of Fisheries and Oceans. “Snip is in compliance with all en- vironmental permits,’? Parker said. *‘We take our environmental slew- ardship seriously and we welcome third party involvement in a more in- tensive study.”’ Fisheries and Oceans staff has been aware of the situation for some lime. ‘We will be on site a number of times this summer making sure the study is scientifically valid, and ob- serving the hovercraft operate,’ said Peter Delaney, chief of habitat conser- vation at DFO’s Vancouver office. Delaney said use of a hovercraft for mining is probably unique in Canada and the study of its impact on fish will be a first. Tf the machine is damaging habitat, penalties can range from fines to an order ta stop using it. At press time a court date had not been fixed to decide on the charges. COOKWARE! Buy an eligible Frigidaire Range ** or Cooktop and get a Lagostina, 5 s Piece Cookware Set as a Bonus! s Approximate Retail Value: $229.99 ESFRIGIDAIRE BIG SAVINGS ON ALL FRIGIDAIRE APPLIANCES WASHERS © DRYERS * FRIDGES * STOVES »DISHWASHERS IRES JUNE 1ST! Totem’s Countrywide We Now j-* Furniture & Appliance 4501 Lakelse Ave, Terrace 1-800-813-1158 Accept... ial For your conventence 638-1158 i SB) "96 F-SERIES XLS 4X2 DELIVERS A FULL SIZE PAYLOAD AT A COMPACT PAYMENT DOWN PAYMENT! *299:: EDITION 4X4 INCLUDING acer LIMITED eS ES XLS THESE STANDARD FEATURES: No down payment! 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