Telephone: 250-387-9675 Facsimile: 250-356-6448 File: 30200/Pros-05-06 REF: 98643
March 11, 2009
Brian Battison Vice President Taseko Mines Ltd Suite 300 905 West Pender St Vancouver BC V6C 1L6
Dear Mr. Battison:
Re: Application for the Prosperity Gold-Copper Project Accepted for Formal Review Pursuant to the Environmental Assessment Act
The Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) received an application for an environmental assessment certificate (Application) for the proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Project (proposed Project) from Taseko Mines Ltd. (Proponent) on January 26, 2009.
In accordance with the procedures and time limits specified in the section 14 Order issued on October 17, 2008 (subsequently amended on February 4, 2009), EAO and other reviewers screened the Application. After considering feedback received from members of the proposed Project working group, EAO wrote to you on February 25, 2009, advising that EAO would not accept the Application due to deficiencies summarised in an attachment to the letter. The Proponent then resubmitted the revised Application on March 6, 2009. The EAO has concluded that the revised Application provides an appropriately meaningful treatment of the requirements in the Application Terms of Reference, and has decided to accept the revised Application for formal detailed review. I should reiterate that a screening is a scan of the Application, not an in- depth review to determine whether or not issues have been resolved to reviewers' satisfaction.
Distribution of the Application and Public Notice
The EAO requires that the Application be made available for detailed review by government agencies, First Nations, and the public. The Proponent is responsible for supplying and distributing all necessary copies of the Application for review purposes. Attachment A identifies the reviewers who should receive copies of the Application, provides their mailing addresses, and specifies the number of copies and Application format (paper or electronic) required. .../2
Mailing Address: Location: Environmental st nd Assessment PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt 1 & 2 Fl – 836 Yates Street Office Victoria BC V8W 9V1 Victoria
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The formal 180-day Application review period will commence once the Proponent has distributed the Application to the reviewers identified in Attachment A.
The section 14 Order specifies that at least one formal comment period of 60 days will be held during the Application review. I am currently working with Taseko Mines staff to confirm dates and advertising requirements for the public comment period and open houses. The Proponent is responsible for advertising in local papers that the Application is available for public review and comment and must ensure that the Application is available at local libraries or other appropriate locations. The Proponent may also be asked to provide any other notifications required by EAO. The first newspaper advertisement must be published at least seven days before the start of the public comment period.
Upon completion of the public comment period, EAO will provide the Proponent with an opportunity to respond to all issues identified in comments submitted to EAO by government agencies, First Nations and the public. The Proponent must respond to all comments received during the public comment period within 21 days of the close of the public comment period.
Please contact me at 250-387-9675 or contact Nathaniel Amann-Blake, Project Assessment Officer, at 250-387-1417 if you have any questions.
Yours truly,
Garry Alexander Project Assessment Director
Enclosure: Application distribution list for proposed Prosperity Gold-Copper Project pc: Colette Spagnuolo Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
Name Title Department Organization Address 1 City Prov PC Phone # Fax # Email Address HC=Hard Copy EC=Electronic Copy Charlene Hogan Natural Resources Canada 555 Booth St 3rd Flr Rm 328C Ottawa Ontario K1A 0G1 613‐996‐7855 Charlene.Hogan@NRCan‐RNCan.gc.ca 1 HC and 1 EC Margo Burgess Manager Natural Resources Canada 2nd Flr Rm 244 601 Booth St Ottawa Ontario K1A 0E8 613‐996‐9317 613‐992‐0190 Margo.Burgess@NRCan‐RNCan.gc.ca 1 HC and 1 EC Kathy McPherson Environmental Specialist Natural Resources Canada Suite 1650, 635‐8th Avenue SW Calgary AB T2P 3M3 403‐292‐6882 403‐292‐4886 kathy.mcpherson@nrcan‐rncan.gc.ca 1 EC Ben Chalmers Senior Policy Advisor Mineral and Metals Sector Natural Resources Canada Suite 801 605 Robson St Vanoouver BC V6B 5J3 604‐666‐4122 604‐666‐1124 Benjamin.Chalmers@NRCan‐RNCan.gc.ca 1 EC Colette Spagnuolo Panel Manager Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency 160 Elgin St, 22nd Fl Ottawa Ontario K1A OH3 613‐957‐0541 613‐957‐0941 colette.spagnuolo@ceaa‐acee.gc.ca 1 HC and 1 EC Robert Connelly Panel Chairperson Prosperity Review Panel
Ken Christian Director Health Protection Interior Health Authority 519 ‐ A Columbia Street Kamloops BC V2C 2T8 250‐851‐7309 250‐851‐7339 [email protected] 1 EC Al Madrigga Economic Development Officer City of Williams Lake 450 Mart Street Williams Lake BC V2G 1N3 250‐392‐1764 250‐392‐4408 [email protected] 1 EC Mitch Minchau Supervisor of Environmental Services Environmental Services Cariboo Regional District Suite D, 180 North Third Avenue Williams Lake BC V2G 2A4 250‐392‐3351 250‐392‐2812 [email protected] 1 EC Sarka Zakova Public Health Inspector Interior Health 3rd Fl ‐ 540 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 1R8 250‐302‐5000 [email protected] 1 EC
Doris Baptiste Alexandria First Nation 7 ‐ 423 Elliot Street Quesnel BC V2J 1Y6 250‐992‐3009 250‐992‐3008 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Viewing Copy requested for Esketemc Esketemc First Nation 1027 Esket Drive Esketemc Reserve #1 at Alkali Lake Alkali Lake BC 250‐440‐5631 1 HC and 1 EC Charlene Belleau Chief Alkali Band Esketemc First Nation PO Box 4479 Williams Lake BC V2G 2V5 250‐440‐5611 250‐440‐5721 [email protected]; 1 HC and 1 EC Beth Bedard Alkali Band Esketemc First Nation 4250 Pacific Rd Williams Lake BC V2G 4Z7 [email protected] 1 EC Patrick Harry Councilor Canoe Creek Band General Delivery Dog Creek BC V0L 1J0 250‐440‐5679 1 HC and 1 EC Bruce Stadfeld Legal Advisor to Canoe Creek Indian Band Mandell Pinder Barristers and Solicitors 422‐1080 Mainland St Vancouver BC V6B 2T4 604‐681‐4146 604‐681‐0959 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Ivor D Myers Chief Stone Indian Band Stone Indian Band Box 158 Hanceville BC V0L 1K0 1 HC and 1 EC Derek Christ Legal for TNG Woodward and Company 2nd Floor 844 Courtney St Victoria BC V8W 1C4 1 HC and 1 EC Loretta Williams Mining Coorinator TNG Tsilhqot'in National Government 253 4th Ave North Williams Lake BC V2G 4T4 250‐392‐3918 250‐398‐5798 [email protected] 2 HC and 2 EC Amy Crook Loretta Williams (TNG) requested this copy be sent Centre for Science in Public Participation 2543 Wesley Pl Victoria BC V8T 1V1 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Marilyn Baptiste Chief Nemiah Indian Band Xeni Gwet'in First Nation Government (TNG) General Delivery Nemiah Valley BC V0L 1X0 250‐394‐7023 250‐394‐7043 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Lenora Fletcher Chief High Bar First Nation PO Box 458 Clinton BC V0K 1K0 250‐459‐2117 250‐459‐2119 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Joe Alphonse Chief Anaham Indian Band Tl'etinqox‐T'in Government Office PO Box 168 Alexis Creek BC V0L 1A0 250‐394‐4212 250‐394‐4275 1 HC and 1 EC Francis Laceese Chief Toosey Indian Band Tl'esqox PO Box 80 Riske Creek BC V0L 1T0 250‐659‐5655 250‐659‐5601 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Ann Louie Chief Williams Lake Indian Band 2672 Indian Dr Williams Lake BC V2G 5K9 250‐296‐3507 250‐296‐4750 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Lynda Price Chief Ulkatcho First Nation PO Box 3430 Anahim Lake BC V0L 1C0 250‐742‐3260 250‐742‐3411 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC LLenny SellarsSll SodaSd CkCreek IdIndi an BdBand Xats'ullXt'll FiFirstt NtNationi 3405 MtMountaini HHouse RRdd WilliWilliams LkLake BC V2G 5L5250 ‐989 ‐2323 2323 250 ‐‐989 2300 2300 [email protected]@tll 1 HC andd 1 ECEC Thomas Phillips Economic Development Coordinator and Councilor Soda Creek Indian Band Xats'ull First Nation 250‐989‐2323 250‐989‐2300 [email protected]; [email protected] 1 EC
Guy Stewart Manager, Environmental and Economic Initiatives Ministry of Environment 4th Floor ‐ 2975 Jutland Road Victoria BC V8W 9M3 250‐356‐9247 [email protected] 1 EC Valerie Cameron Regional Manager Water Stewardship Ministry of Environment 1259 Dalhousie Drive Kamloops BC V2C 5Z5 250‐371‐6270 [email protected] 1 EC Kevin Bennett Groundwater Hydrologist Water Stewardship Ministry of Environment 1259 Dalhousie Dr Kamloops BC V2C 5Z5 250‐371‐6319 250‐828‐4000 [email protected] 1 EC Roger Packham Senior Ecosystem Biologist Environmental Stewardship Division Ministry of Environment Box 1600 100 Mile House BC V0K 2E0 250‐395‐7853 250‐395‐7883 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Rodger Stewart Regional Manager Environmental Stewardship Division, Williams Lake Ministry of Environment 400 ‐ 640 Borland Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4549 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] Graham Veale Air Quality Meteorologist Environmental Protection Division Ministry of Environment 400 ‐ 640 Borland Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4762 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] 3 HC Douglas Hill Head, Environmental Management Section Environmental Protection Division Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4542 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] 2 HC Kym Keogh EIA Biologist Environmental Protection Division Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St. Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4539 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] for distribution Bill Klopp Hydrologist/Engineer Water Stewardship, Cariboo Region Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4255 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] within MOE Karen Moores Sr. Environmental Protection Officer Environmental Protection Division Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4544 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] Williams Lake Mike Ramsay Section Head, Fish & Wildlife Fish and Wildlife Science and Allocation Section Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4546 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] Muhammed Sabur Hydrologist Environmental Stewardship Ministry of Environment 400‐ 640 Borland Street Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4283 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] Cheryl Williston Environmental Stewardship Biologist Environmental Stewardship Division Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4341 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] Lee Williston Sr. Fish Biologist Environmental Stewardship Division Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4744 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] John Youds Section Head, Ecosystems Environmental Stewardship Division Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4563 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] Norm Zirnhelt Section Head, Environmental Quality Environmental Protection Ministry of Environment 400‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2G 4T1 250‐398‐4545 250‐398‐4214 [email protected] Joe Seguin Regional Director Permitting & Reclamation Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 162 Oriole Rd Kamloops BC V2C 4N7 250 371‐6051 [email protected] 1 EC Bruce Hupman Inspector of Mines MEMPR Kamloops ‐ South Central Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 162 Oriole Rd Kamloops BC V2C 4N7 250‐371‐6067 250‐371‐6070 [email protected] 1 EC Diane Howe Mine Review Geologist Permitting and Reclamation Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 7th Fl 1675 Douglas St Victoria BC V8W 9N3 250‐952‐0183 250‐952‐0481 [email protected] Kim Bellefontaine Sr. Mine Review Geologist Mining & Minerals Division Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 7‐1675 Douglas St Victoria BC V8W 2G5 250‐952‐0489 250‐952‐0481 [email protected] 2 HC and 2 EC Ramyy Kamel Geotechnical Engineeg r Miningg and Minerals Division Ministryy of Energy,gy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 7th Floor ‐ 1675 Douglasg Street Victoria BC V8W 2G5 250‐387‐4808 250‐952‐0481 [email protected]@g (attn:( Kim B.)) Bruce Mattson for MEMPR Lorax Environmental 2289 Burrard Street Vancouver BC V6J 3H9 604‐688‐7173 1 HC and 1 EC Steven Acheson Heritage Resource Specialist Archaeology Branch Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts 3 – 1250 Quadra St Victoria BC V8W 2K7 250‐953‐3306 250‐953‐3340 [email protected] 1 EC Garry Alexander Project Assessment Director Environmental Assessment Office 2nd Fl ‐ 836 Yates St Victoria BC V8W 9V1 250‐387‐9675 250‐356‐6448 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Nathaniel Amann‐Blake Project Assessment Officer Environmental Assessment Office 2nd Fl ‐ 836 Yates Street Victoria BC V8W 9V1 250‐387‐1417 250‐356‐6448 Nathaniel.Amann‐[email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Colleen Mycroft Administrative Assistant Environmental Assessment Office Environmental Assessment Office 2nd Floor 836 Yates Street Victoria BC V8W 9V1 250‐387‐9404 250‐356‐6448 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Martin Sills Land Use Agrologist Regional Operations, Central BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 300‐640 Borland St Williams Lake BC V2J 1R8 250‐398‐4505 250‐398‐4688 [email protected] 1 HC and 1 EC Darcy Peel Integrated Land Management Bureau Suite 201 ‐ 172 2nd Avenue N Williams Lake BC V2G 1Z6 250 398‐4720 [email protected] 1 EC