Yukoners want information about Casino mining project

Concerns about caribou, tailings and waste management were raised at last night's meeting about the Casino mining project.

The meeting was hosted by the Yukon Conservation Society, which is worried a proposed tailings pond dam at the site would eventually fail. 

But Jon Rudolph, a manager with Cobalt Construction, said too many mining projects in the territory are being stymied. 

"It's fine to have environmental review and to look at things, but let's not get hysterical about it," he said.

"It's big, yes, but done properly it's a huge economic generator for Canada as well as Yukon." 

The Casino Mining Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Western Copper and Gold, is planning to build what would be the Yukon's biggest mine, west of Carmacks. The mine's proposed earth-fill dam tailings was the main topic at the meeting.

Concerns about waste entering river

Mary Whitley was one of about 50 people at the presentation. She went to learn more about the project.

"Who is going to make sure its [the dam] not going to start failing and all that acid rock drainage and that mine waste will end up going down the creek, down the river into salmon-bearing streams?" 

Angela Sabo, who works in tourism, said it's important that all Yukoners find out what's planned at the mine. 

Most people in attendance said there needs to be more public consultation on the potential impacts of the project. 

Earlier this month, the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board sent the controversial mine project to the highest level of review due to serious concerns about its environmental impacts.

That process could take up to 15 months.