Vancouver, BC – The Wilderness Committee has just released a comprehensive new report on the controversial proposed Catface copper mine in Clayoquot Sound, near the townsite of Tofino. Mine exploration permits, which are in the final stages of approval by the BC government, could result in drilling activity being approved within months. If the mine is approved by the BC government, the environmental, social, and economic consequences to Clayoquot Sound could be severe.

Only 50 kilometres away from the proposed Catface mine, a similar copper mine on Mt Washington permanently wiped out all species of salmon and numerous other life forms from the Tsolum River and poisoned many domestic drinking water supplies. Despite one of the most costly and protracted mine cleanup efforts in BC history, the mine continues to pollute the Tsolum River.

Copper mines are the single biggest source of environmental contamination in the hard rock mining industry. Many of the contaminants associated with copper mines are linked to cancer, asthma and other lung ailments, and disruption to the bodys hormone and immune systems.

Toxic water draining from one of the drill holes at Catface has copper 21 times greater than that considered safe for human consumption. Other chemical testing related to copper mining exploration at Catface has found arsenic and copper at up to 60 times the safe limit for humans.

Despite the threats of contamination, the mine proponent, Selkirk Metals, has not completed mining, water management, waste management, nor environmental plans for the proposed mine.

A recent academic study found that even when environmental plans are conducted, they generally fail miserably. The study found that 64% of North American mines fail to meet their mitigation expectations, resulting in far greater environmental impacts than forecast.

Kevin Kreuger, Minister of State for Mining, said in a recent interview in the Westerly Newspaper (see link below), that the BC government may take months to decide how to proceed with mine approval.

As part of the governments due process to issue a permit for exploratory drilling, the ministry must refer the issue to the Central Region Board, the Ministry of Environment, local First Nations and the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District for feedback.

Krueger said those referrals have been sent, and the ministry is currently waiting to hear back from each of those bodies and the responses will have a considerable amount of influence on whether an exploratory drilling permit is issued by the ministry.

The Wilderness Committee wants the mine and all related exploration activities permanently quashed. Local government authorities, including the Tofino Chamber of Commerce, have come out against the mine.

To view the media story on Catface Mine in the Westerly click here

To view the full Catface Mine report on the Wilderness Committee website click here

To view a map of the proposed Catface Mine click here

Free copies of the Catface Mine report are available from the Wilderness Committee and the Friends Of Clayoquot Sound, without whose assistance, this report would not have been possible.

For more information contact Wilderness Committee Staff Scientist, Andy Miller @ 604-992-3099

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