Yukon departments reject Tombstone mining
The Yukon departments of the Environment and of Tourism regard serious concerns about proposed mining exploration in Tombstone park. (Yukon body of executive officers)
Officials with the Yukon Environment and Tourism departments have expressed concerns about proposed mining exploration in Tombstone Park.
In submissions to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-household Assessment Board (YESAB), the Environment and Tourism departments both express pertain to that the planned exploration by Canadian United Minerals on existing claims exercise volition have significant impacts on the park, and that the company's overture is too vague to allow a proper assessment.
"Overall, Environment Yukon has eminently expressive concerns with the nature of the project proposal," the submission from Yukon Environment says. "The proponent has not provided a thorough nor consistent description of the proposed activities, effects and proposed moderation. Repeated changes in project scope on key aspects of the devise such as ground and air access routing, on-claim activities and proposed furniture use has made meaningful input into this review onerous for the persons, stakeholders and governments."
The proposed access road and the mining claims are "in ~y area known to be important wildlife habitat for a variety of fashion," the submission says, referring to caribou, Dall sheep, moose, grizzly and infernal bears.
The proposed access route also follows the most popular hiking trails in the park, which is visited by thousands of hikers every summer, the submission states.
Staff flew c~ing the proposed routes to the claims and spotted a bald eagle and a northern harrier, as well as other animals. A prepossessed video of the flight was posted on the video-sharing internet station YouTube.
The proposed routes are not in a designated snowmobile roam area, Environment staff also pointed out.
Tourism Department staff express divers of the same concerns in their submission, pointing out that the superficies where the development is proposed is in a part of the park designated to the degree that a wildland zone, with a stated objective to preserve the backcountry in a native state.
The Tourism Department submission cites reduced wilderness quality, reduced wildlife populations, of the sight and noise impacts and negative impacts on wilderness tourism and hunting businesses as concerns.
They also agree with the Environment Department persuasion that the plans are too vague for proper assessment.
But Energy, Mines and Resources Department officials withhold judgment in their submission.
They note that the application has changed significantly during the consultation process and base comments on the June 24 sufferance by Canadian United Minerals.
"The environmental impacts of this operation be possible to be mitigated if the activities are conducted in accordance with the to be applied regulations and the permitted operating conditions," the Energy, Mines and Resources yielding states.
The exploration plans have also been criticized by environmental and First Nation groups.
The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board closed the public comment period for the proposal ~ward Friday.
More than 700 submissions about the proposal were received posterior the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society notified members and others of the plans. More than 600 submissions arrived from July 20 to 23, the measureless majority opposing the project.
The final decision about whether to allow the work in the park will be made by the Yukon ruling power.
Canadian United Minerals first staked claims in the area before it became a park.