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Taseko responds to federal request for information.
Speaking with Copper Investing News, Brian Battison, Taseko’s vice president, corporate affairs, said he doesn’t know how this mistake was made — but that doesn’t change the fact that the CEAA is relying on an incorrect design.
Battison explained that the company put forward a model for a tailings pond designed to save Fish Lake. It is a design that is in use and has proven effective in operating mines today. “NRCan either didn’t know or didn’t understand that it was an engineered design,” he said, adding that with NRCan’s design for the tailings disposal facility, the leakage was increased by a factor of 11.
Shortly after Taseko came forward with its complaint, the CEAA published a letter asking for the company to prove its claims.
In response to the public request from the CEAA, Taseko sent two letters to Environmental Minister Leona Aglukkaq and the CEAA’s vice president, Yves Lebeouf, explaining the basis for the company’s claims.
According to Battison, the company has fully complied with the request from the federal review panel; however, the information provided has not been made public, which Battison believes could have an impact on the final decision on the company’s proposal.
A decision on the mine needs to be made within 120 days following the release of the panel report. Ultimately, the final decision for New Prosperity rests in the hands of Aglukkaq, and if she rejects the mine, then cabinet will have to weigh in on whether or not the the project is justified.
Taseko simply wants to ensure that the mistake of one person does not affect the final outcome of the mine. “We know what happened,” Battison said, “we just want to how and why.”
Securities Disclosure: I, Vivien Diniz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.