Daily Archives: September 6, 2013

Environmentalists say Alberta government keeping them out of oilsands hearing

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BY BOB WEBER, THE CANADIAN PRESS reposted from the Edmonton Journal, Sept 5, 2013

EDMONTON - Alberta environmentalists argued in court Thursday that the provincial government is keeping them out of hearings on a proposed oilsands development at least partly because of their concerns about the industry.

The accusation emerged in court documents filed in support of the Oilsands Environmental Coalition’s bid to have a judge overturn a decision by Alberta Environment’s northern region director denying the coalition the chance to present its concerns in hearings on a proposal by Southern Pacific Resource Corp. (TSX:STP).

“The Director … breached his duties of procedural fairness as he took into consideration improper and irrelevant factors,” says the coalition’s brief.

In March 2012, the coalition submitted a position paper on Southern Pacific’s application to build and operate an in-situ oilsands mine on the banks of the MacKay River in northeastern Alberta. The coalition, composed of the Fort McMurray Environmental Association, the Pembina Institute, the Alberta Wilderness Association and the Toxics Watch Society, has successfully filed such statements on 14 other oilsands developments.

Coalition members hold leases to use land downstream of the project for recreational purposes. MORE

Ecocide Alert! Stop the spraying before it’s too late

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Pine canopy from ground

by Jean McKechnie Flemming Jensen, letter to the editor, Sudbury Star, Sept 3, 2013

Did you know that 2,200 hectares of pristine forests around Sudbury will be sprayed with glyphosate — a chemical more commonly known as Roundup?

Who would do such a thing? Why, it’s the province of Ontario through the Ministry of Natural Resources that will be performing ecocide on many of our forests around Windy Lake, Wanapitei, north of Panache, southeast of Killarney Provincial Park and east of Tyson Lake.

This spraying is scheduled to take place over the next few weeks. We are seasonal cottage owners on Tyson Lake on the doorstep of Killarney Provincial Park — the crown jewel of the Ontario Parks system.

If a neighbour in suburbia were to add a new garage, homeowners in a wide radius would receive written notice and have a chance to comment. Not so in this case. It is entirely possible the MNR had a postage-stamp-size ad in the newspaper to give notice, but it went unnoticed.

If it weren’t for the excellent reporting by CBC Radio [see below], this spraying would have come and gone without anyone knowing. CBC featured Laurentian University biology professor Charles Ramcharan, who expressed his concerns on the use of this herbicide on the health of amphibians such as frogs and newts, and possibly fish.

The purpose of this spraying is to kill the living plants to promote the growth of conifers, undoubtedly to give ease to the lumber barons. Just think of a forest with no deciduous trees, no shrubs, no plants, no berries. Our present diverse ecosystems provide food and shelter to many species of animals, birds and amphibians. If we destroy the habitat of these species, will they survive or will they migrate to areas that are unnatural and where they may not be welcome? Without blueberries, bears will certainly migrate to urban areas, where they will become more of a nuisance. The province may want to think about discontinuing the ineffective Bear Wise hotline in favour of a call centre to take the calls.

I would encourage readers to contact the premier of Ontario and the minister of Natural Resources before it’s too late.

Jean McKechnie Flemming Jensen

Tyson Lake Cottage owners Sudbury

RELATED:

Ecocide Alert! Gold exploration permit approved within a Clayoquot Sound Tribal Park.

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reposted from ClayoquotAction, Aug 28, 2013

Gold exploration permit approved

Map of Tla-o-qui-aht Tribal Parks in Clayoquot Sound.

The Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation is angered to learn that plans to begin gold mining exploration in the Tranquil Tribal Park in Clayoquot Sound took a significant step forward last week. A letter was sent to the BC Minister of Energy and Mines from a Senior Mines Inspector recommending approval for a permit to conduct exploratory drilling at the long-abandoned Fandora mine site.

The Tla-o-qui-aht oppose mining in their territory and are not satisfied with the level of consultation by the company, Vancouver-based Selkirk Metals (owned by Imperial Metals Corporation) and the BC government. The Nation was awaiting word on a meeting with the Minister, which they expected to happen in September.

The Tla-o-qui-aht have declared Tranquil Valley a Tribal Park, have been working to attract investors in a conservation model, and aspire to build a salmon hatchery and other sustainable projects. The mine does not fit the Tla-o-qui-aht vision of ecosystem management and resource stewardship.

“We’re not anti-development; we’re pro-sustainable development,” said Saya Masso, Tla-o-qui-aht Natural Resource Manager and councillor. “As a First Nation working hard for a resilient homeland and sustainable economies, it’s upsetting to be disregarded by the consultation process that the government is using to approve projects like this.”

Mining is controversial in Clayoquot Sound, a region designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and world-renowned for its ancient temperate rainforests. Tla-o-qui-aht opposition to mining is strongly supported by Clayoquot Action, the Wilderness Committee, Sierra Club BC, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, and Greenpeace.

“A gold mine would jeopardize watershed and salmon recovery, and risk all the progress that has been made in Clayoquot,” said Torrance Coste, Vancouver Island Campaigner with the Wilderness Committee. “This is a region that could be an example of how to look after the environment, but a mine here would shatter that potential.”

The District of Tofino has called for the modernization of mineral tenure laws in BC to give First Nations and municipalities a larger say in the process.

“Local governments and First Nations deserve greater latitude to shape their economic development paths and protect the full range of their residents’ interests,” said Tofino District Mayor Josie Osborne.

The Tla-o-qui-aht are demanding that their original request for a meeting with the Minister finally be honoured.

“We hope that a meeting with the Minister will put this back on track for the people of Vancouver Island, and those who currently benefit from the healthy territories of the Tla-o-qui-aht Nation,” Masso said.

Please sign and share this Tla-oqui-aht First Nations petition calling for a moratorium on all mining activities in their territories.