YESAB Discontinues Enviro Assessment of Coffee Creek Proposal

Thursday, 13 July 2017 15:32

YESAB says lack of consultation by Goldcorp with Tr'ondek Hwech'in FN reason behind decision. But both TH and Goldcorp say the consultation issue can be worked out in later phases of assessment.

The Coffee Creek Gold Project has been dealt a major blow by the environmental assessor. The Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board has informed Goldcorp earlier this week that it is discontinuing its assessment of the mining project south of Dawson City claiming not enough consultation was performed.

Goldcorp to correct the record ahead of the July 12 decision says that it and the Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation have worked rigorously since March to address consultation concerns and move forward. In a letter from Goldcorp to YESAB, it states “YESAB will not be advancing the Proposal past the adequacy phase and on to the screening phase until Goldcorp has addressed the deficiencies in respect of such consultation; and such a determination by YESAB will cause material delays to the schedule for the Coffee Gold Project.”

Goldcorp says TH does not object to the Proposal proceeding to the screening stage and the Goldcorp will meaningfully address “any concerns identified by Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in respect of the Proposal prior to the conclusion of the screening phase of the environmental assessment.”

David Garofalo President and CEO of Goldcorp says “Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in and Goldcorp are jointly advising the Executive Committee that it is our view TH is confident that those requirements can be met during the next phases of the environmental assessment process. We believe that the outstanding issues and concerns of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in can be discussed and addressed in good faith in the remaining stages of the YESAB process.”

The Tr'ondek Hwech’in First Nation echo’s Goldcorp in wanting the Proposal to proceed to the screening phase, as long as Goldcorp meets its outlined conditions. Chief Roberta Joseph states in a letter to YESAB July 12th that “we ask that YESAB advance the Proposal to the screening phase of the environmental assessment notwithstanding the deficiencies in respect of consultation with Tr’ondek Hwech’in set out in our letters on May 4, and June 20, 2017.”

The First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun and the Selkirk First Nation have also been notified by YESAB as to its discontinuation decision.

(Dan Jones July 13, 2017)