Tatshenshini report presents three options

A trio of options are outlined in an interim report related to future land and water use of the Tatshenshini-Alsek River region in the northwest corner of British Columbia where Geddes Resources (TSE) is proposing to develop a world-class copper deposit.

The Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE) presented the report to the provincial government after six months of study.

The land-use dispute arose and became international in focus when a coalition of preservationist groups opposed Geddes’ Windy Craggy project proposal. CORE outlined the positive and negative aspects of three major options for the government to consider when making its decision. The first was the wilderness option, whereby the entire Tatshenshini-Alsek River region would be designated a protected area with no resource or infrastructure development allowed. After being combined with wilderness areas in neighboring Alaska, the wilderness option would create “what may be the largest protected wilderness in the world,” Core noted.

Under this option, Geddes could be entitled to compensation under the government’s proposed policies on resource expropriation which, if made law, would limit compensation to expenditures on the project five years before the point of taking.

The second option would allow mining to be acceptable in 25% of the area deemed to have high mineral value. The remaining 75% would be designated a park or wilderness preserve.

Last year the province’s ministry of mines undertook systematic geological mapping of the region in order to assess its mineral potential. A preliminary assessment of this work revealed a number of “significant” copper occurrences in a belt of favorable rocks about seven kilometres wide, and possibly longer. The CORE report noted that some of copper occurrences in this belt “have significant potential to equal or exceed the Windy Craggy deposit in size and grade.”

The third option is for a delayed decision to allow more information to be obtained on all issues, including aboriginal land claims to the area. This option also included a recommendation that compensation be paid to Geddes, along with provisions for a “right of first refusal” if mining is later found to be acceptable.

Geddes President Keith Somerville said he is “encouraged” that CORE is recommending a 6-month time-frame for the government to make a decision. During this period, the interim report will be distributed to various interested parties for public review and comment.

“We’ve been supporting the CORE process since it began, but we are not encouraged by the delay option,” Sommerville said. “It doesn’t help our project, and it won’t help resolve the land-use uncertainty affecting our industry.”