Letter too late for city to act on

By Dan Hilborn
Published Sept. 16, 2006


A letter asking for Burnaby city council's support to stop the first uranium exploration project in the province since 1980 was received too late for the city to take action.

Jean Bonner of the Yellowhead Ecological Association said the mining company International Ranger Corp. has asked for permission to resume exploration near the Foghorn Polymetallic Project.

The mineral claim is located as close as half a kilometre from the North Thompson River and includes many creeks that flow into areas that have both domestic and irrigation water licences, said the letter dated July 21, but not received by council until its Aug. 28 meeting.

B.C.'s chief inspector of mines had set a July 31 deadline for interested parties to raise concerns about the application.

City council also received notice that the Regional District of North Okanagan is calling for local government approval before any mining exploration activities are approved within their watersheds.