TERRACE, B.C. – The Nisga’a Nation has begun legal proceedings against the British Columbia government over a decision to issue an environmental assessment certificate for a proposed molybdenum mine in northwestern B.C.
The Nisga’a say their objection isn’t necessarily with the Kitsault mine or its proposed reopening, but with the way the process has been handled.
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The original Kitsault mine, 140 kilometres northeast of Prince Rupert, closed in the early 1980s when molybdenum prices collapsed, but Avanti Mining would like to restart production and says it has spent $13-million and three years on a thorough and proper assessment.
The Nisga’a Nation launched a mandatory dispute resolution proceeding under its treaty in early March, but just five days after that process began, the B.C. government granted Avanti an environmental assessment certificate.
Nisga’a Lisims Government President Mitchell Stevens says the Nisga’a don’t necessarily oppose reopening the mine, but are concerned the assessment is flawed and incomplete, and the granting of the certificate contravenes details of the Nisga’a Final Agreement.
Controversy swirled around the first mine when mine tailings were dumped directly into Lime Creek and Alice Arm, resulting in elevated levels of metal contaminants. (CFTK)
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