No Mining in New Park
Posted by: Kathie Brosemer (kathie) on February 07, 2001 at 10:06:40
from the we-need-this-like-we-need-a-hole-in-the-ground dept.
Kim writes: Environmentalists today applauded the Minister of Natural Resource’s decision to reject an application for a mine in Mellon Lake Conservation Reserve. The Minister’s decision is viewed as an important first step to keep mines out of protected areas. The Mellon Lake reserve was one of 378 new protected areas established by the provincial government in March 1999. Over half of the new protected areas established under Ontario’s Living Legacy are similarly threatened.
"We’re encouraged by this decision," says Jerry DeMarco, Managing Lawyer with Sierra Legal Defence Fund. "The government can now complete the process by acting to remove the claims in 190 new protected areas threatened by mining interests." Mr. DeMarco is legal counsel for: No Quarry @ Mellon Lake (NQ@ML), Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Wildlands League and World Wildlife Fund, groups that oppose the mine at Mellon Lake.
The proposed mine at Mellon Lake has been under close scrutiny since local citizens discovered large-scale ‘bulk sampling’ in the conservation reserve in spring of 2000.
Located in eastern Ontario (northeast of Belleville on Hwy 41 south of Kaladar), Mellon Lake has long been known for its outstanding natural features and rare species. In 1983 it was designated by the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). It contains several provincially and regionally significant species including the Little Prickly Pear Cactus (provincially rare) and the Five-Lined Skink (Ontario’s only lizard) recently determined to be vulnerable in Canada.
The Minister did the right thing in turning down this proposal, said Lyn Sparling, a founding member of No Quarry at Mellon Lake (NQ@ML ) and a resident of Tweed. The mining company’s bulk sampling and road work has already caused significant harm to this ecologically sensitive area. Industrial activity must not be permitted in a protected area.
Government documents confirm that mining claims threaten 190 new protected areas in Ontario. "Mellon Lake demonstrates why mining in parks is a bad idea. It destroys natural values and diminishes the Living Legacy accomplishment," says Evan Ferrari of the Partnership for Public Lands, (a joint effort of the World Wildlife Fund, the Federation of Ontario Naturalists and the Wildlands League). He concluded, "We look forward to working with the Minister and the mining industry to make parks permanently mine-free."
For further information please contact:
Evan Ferrari, Provincial Coordinator, Partnership for Public Lands (416) 971-9453 x 43
Further information, maps and photos available at: www.wildontario.org
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