I was a bit surprised by some of the content of Jim Shepard’s letter regarding the recent federal decision to stop the New Prosperity project.
He says we were the ones “that failed to deliver a plan that would guarantee the integrity of Fish Lake” and implies that we didn’t try hard enough. He is wrong.
The failure rests with the federal review panel (FRP) whose duty was to fairly assess the plan we put forward. They failed in their duty and the consequence of their failure resulted in the federal environment minister making the wrong decision.
It’s important to understand an environmental assessment is a high level evaluation of a concept supported by evidence and proven practice. The plan we put forward to save Fish Lake was solid and fully adequate to meet the test of an environmental assessment.
The real test of the technical and environmental integrity of a mine development plan such as New Prosperity, including the plan to save Fish Lake, comes after the environmental assessment. It is in this later step where detailed engineering plans covering every aspect of the development are prepared and examined. This highly technical phase is where the plan to save Fish Lake would have been absolutely proven beyond any doubt.
What a shame the federal government would not allow the project to move to this further level of scrutiny.
We get the point Mr. Shepard; the preservation of Fish Lake is paramount. That’s what this whole $6-million FRP exercise was all about and it is both frustrating and discouraging to have things turn out the way they have.
We agree there really is no reason why this project should not be built. We agree the project is too important to the people of the Cariboo and critical to the future of the region to let things end here. We agree that every effort should be made to make the project a reality.
Was every effort made by Taseko to secure federal approval? You bet. Is there more that could be done now? Yes, possibly.
However, we are not the only ones who could commit to further effort. The invitation from the federal government to try again must be sincere.
Will the prime minister truly keep an open mind and be willing to say “yes” if we address his concerns as Mr. Shepard suggests he should?
We’ve been down this road once before having taken them up on an earlier invitation to “address the federal concerns.” We committed hundreds of millions of dollars to prove we could build the mine differently, address their concerns and save Fish Lake but as their decision showed, it got us nowhere.
What will be different if we try yet again?
Under the Constitution of Canada, these minerals are provincial responsibility; owned by the people of British Columbia. The provincial government approved the project and wants to see it built. They have the power and legal authority for mine permitting and play an important role in making sure Fish Lake is preserved.
Local Aboriginal leaders have a role in all of this as well. Will they be open to the possibility of a plan that respects their interests, saves Fish Lake and saves the project itself? If they remain inflexible and opposed to the idea, would it even be worth the effort for all of us to try again given the obvious weight governments place on their opinion?
Human beings have proven themselves capable of engineering practically anything, from skyscrapers to space crafts. People by the millions will ride on the Sky Train even though there is no driver; they will trust their new car to parallel-park itself on the street; and they will sit comfortably on an airplane travelling at 500 miles an hour without once questioning the engineering in which they have placed their very lives.
Yet, tell some people you can engineer and build a pond that won’t leak and it seems too much for them to comprehend. Not only will they disbelieve you, they will go to extraordinary lengths to convince others, including politicians, not to believe you either.
As a professional engineer, I know New Prosperity can be built and operated without any harmful impact on Fish Lake. In fact, modern mine engineering can guarantee it.
It is not as simple as Mr. Shepard suggests for Taseko and its shareholders to commit once again to a further effort to win federal approval for New Prosperity. There are many factors to consider not the least of which is the commitment of others who figure so prominently in the ultimate decision.
Russell Hallbauer is the president and CEO Taseko Mines Ltd.
