More studies for Windy Craggy

The British Columbia government will soon release a detailed document outlining its “study requirements” for the Windy Craggy copper project owned by Geddes Resources (TSE).

Geddes is proposing to develop a large copper mine in the far northwestern corner of the province, but its plans are being opposed by environmental and preservationist groups lobbying hard to have the project area part of a wilderness park where resource development would not be allowed. The government says it will study three options before making a decision on Windy Craggy: complete preservation of the area, options for carefully controlled mineral and resource development, and options for protection and preservation of key areas required for wildlife protection and for tourism. Forest Minister Dan Miller, speaking on behalf of Mines Minister Anne Edwards, says the evaluation process will be “public and fair,” and will consider economic, socio-economic and environmental benefits. “If, as a result of this evaluation, the government determines that mineral development is among the preferred land uses for the region, we will then be in a position to consider specific mining proposals such as Windy Craggy,” he says.

“In that event, rigorous review of the Windy Craggy project will resume. That review will include a formal public hearing by an independent panel.” In the meantime, project opponents are seeking to obtain World Heritage Site status to “protect” the Tatshenshini and Alsek Rivers, an effort that was recently endorsed by Congressman Wayne Owens of Utah and Senator Al Gore of Tennessee.

But this effort won’t be endorsed by Alaska Governor Wally Hickel, who is in favor of resource development “if done in an environmentally sensitive manner”, according to a government spokesman.

The mayor and council of Haines, Alaska, also have a unified position of being in favor of environmentally sound economic development, although a list of concerns about Windy Craggy has been brought forward on such issues as method of transport, impact on local populace and a clean-up contingency plan. More recently, Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski made clear his position on Windy Craggy when the project came under attack in Washington, D.C. “I think it would be inappropriate to seek to halt a Canadian project, solely on Canadian territory, prior to completion of Canada’s phase-two review process,” Murkowski says.

Murkowski adds that he was “offended” when Canada recently interjected itself into an Alaskan environmental issue by opposing an oil and gas project before the state had finished planning specific steps to guarantee the project would not impact on Arctic caribou herds.

“Until final planning for the mine (Windy Craggy) is finished, it is impossible to make an intelligent assessment as to whether the mine will threaten American interests, such as our fisheries, and the resources of the back side of Glacier Bay,” he said.

But Murkowski also points out that the mine could have “positive economic impacts in Haines, a town with an extremely high unemployment rate given the shutdown of the town’s (timber) mill last year.”

Said the senator, “I’m keenly interested in seeing the completion of the scientific assessment of Windy Craggy’s potential impacts.”