LETTER TO THE EDITOR — BC explorer stung by regulations

I can verify the assessment in your recent editorial about what has happened in British Columbia (T.N.M., April 19-25/98), and can tell you that, on Vancouver Island, it’s even worse than you stated.

Besides a large provincial park and a large federal park, which are closed to mining, there are several large “special management areas” that come under the jurisdiction of special interest groups opposed to mining. As I discovered through my own experience, even areas purportedly open to mining also come under the jurisdiction of natives and environmentalists.

In September, I applied for a permit to do some back-hoe trenching in an area that, until opened up by logging roads in the past five years, was only accessible by a rough prospectors trail. The area is classified as an “integrated management area” and has now been clear-cut and the roads torn up.

In February, after the permit application had been reviewed by various governmental and non-governmental agencies, I was notified it would be issued subject to a list of special conditions. These included a requirement that a mountain stream (where there is definitely no fish habitat) could only be forded with equipment when dry and to “meet with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations to discuss the details of the proposed work program and if necessary, co-ordinate a joint inspection of the site no less than one week prior to the commencement of operations. Confirmation of compliance shall be provided to both Clayoquot Sound Central Regional Board and the Mines branch office in Nanaimo before work is initiated.”

It becomes a case of control by coercion. I could meet with the First Nations leaders and make whatever concessions are required, and thereby gain their support to override opposition by the environmentalists on the regional board. But I do not intend to submit to tyranny. I’m writing a book about it.

Walter Guppy

Tofino, B.C.