Yukon First Nation seeks review of Selwyn project

The Liard First Nation is asking the Yukon Supreme Court to order a new environmental assessment on Selwyn Chihong's lead-zinc exploration project on the Yukon-Northwest Territories border.

The Watson Lake-based First Nation says an earlier screening by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board did not consider the company's plans to release wastewater from its Howard's Pass property into Don Creek, which flows into the Pelly River and ultimately into the Yukon River.

Liard First Nation Chief Liard McMillan said the earlierscreening did not consider the effects of releasing wastewater into Yukon's waterways, adding that any mistakes could have far-reaching implications.

"The Liard First Nation believes and we believe that all Yukoners should feel the same way that this one [screening] process should be a rigorous one and should be done properly," McMillan told reporters Thursday in Whitehorse.

Vancouver-based Selwyn Resources Ltd. and Chinese mining company Yunnan Chihong Zinc Germanium Co. Ltd. are spending $100 million over the next year to explore the Howard's Pass property, which is believed to have the largest known lead-zinc deposit in the world.

About 90 per cent of the Howard's Pass property is in southeast Yukon, with the remaining area extending into the Northwest Territories.

"I'm concerned there's a lot of development in our traditional territory," said Rose Caesar, a Liard First Nation elder.

"Any kind of development that is not properly assessed for wildlife and water, it's very important to me."

Others should be worried: chief

The Pelly River runs through the traditional territories of the Ross River Dena Council and the Selkirk First Nation, but neither First Nation has expressed concern aboutSelwyn Chihong's plans.

"The Liard First Nation feels that they should be concerned," McMillan said. "This is a concern not only for the Kaska, but for all Yukoners."

Drew Mildon, a Victoria-based lawyer for the Liard First Nation, said the Yukon government boasts about having only one environmental screening process in the territory, unlike other Canadian jurisdictions.

"If there's going to be a one-window approach in the Yukon, it needs to be right, and Yukoners need to be assured that they can depend on that board," Mildon said.

However, the Yukon Water Board is also planning to look at Selwyn Chihong's plans. Board officials told CBC Thursday the project cannot discharge any water into Don Creek without a licence.

Selwyn's president, Harlan Meade,told CBCThursdaythe company will not do anything without the water board's approval.

But Mildon said Yukon's mining industry is currently challenging the water board's right to have a say over proposed mining operations.