Outfitters' objections do not sway YESAB, which recommends mining road

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) has recommended a new 65-kilometre mining road in central Yukonbe approved,despite concerns about its potential impact on wildlife.

The road isproposed by B.C.-based ATAC Resourcesas necessary, to allow heavy machinery to reach the Tiger deposit on its Rau goldpropertynorth of Mayo. Right now, the property isaccessed only by air, or overa frozen swampy trail.

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The new road would require eight bridges and 38 culverts over small streams and rivers.It would be intended to last 10 to 20 years.

YESAB'srecommendation, published Wednesday,is that the road be approved with a number of terms and conditions, meant to minimize impact on wildlife, and traditional hunting and trapping.

TheYESABreport notes the proposed road would pass through a number oftraplines, andwould "likely require the relocation of trapping infrastructure, including trails and cabins."

The report notes these impacts are "adverse and irreversible" and says compensation should be paid.

Increased hunting pressure

Another concern raised during YESAB's review was that a new road would lead to more hunting of moose. The report says thatcould bemitigated to a degree but not entirely.

"The project, even with access controls, will lead to an increase in hunting pressure," it says.

YESAB recommends the Yukon government and the Na-Cho Nyk Dun First Nation develop an"access regime" which could include a staffed guard house at a road gate.ATAChas proposeddeliberately routingthe road through theNa-ChoNykDunsettlement landto allow the First Nation legal control over who uses it.

YESABalso recommends that small bridges could be removed to restrict access when the mining company is not using the road.

TheNa-ChoNykDun First Nation could not be reached for comment. It had previously requested more information about the project and agreed to meetings withATACResources.

YESAB sees no negative effect on fish, caribou, bears

YESABalso considered possible impacts on other species fish, caribou, bears and for the most part foundnothing of major concern.

The report said the "effects to fish and fish habitat are not significant."

It also dismisses concerns about caribou,saying "no information is available to suggest that the project area comprises key habitat areas for caribou or that caribou regularly occupy the project area."

The impact on bears is also not seen assignificant, other than occasional bears who may be lured by workers' garbage or food if not handled properly.

Other species, however, raised more concern.

YESAB notes that "the project will likely result in disturbance to nesting peregrine falcons" but says thatcould be mitigated by forbidding any work withinone kilometer of nesting falcons, as determined by a biologist.

YESAB also recommends the project keep at least 250 metres away from Ladue Lake.

Overall, it says the access road "does not propose large scale habitat destruction" and recommends discussions continue.

Outfitters campaigned against

The Yukon Outfitters' Association has campaigned against theroad project.

YESAB notes the companies can "charge upwards of $30,000 USfor a guided moose hunt," and are worried about losing business.

"Population declines in moose would likely result in reductions in quotas and financial losses to their businesses. This loss represents a real and adverse effect to outfitters within the overall economy," the report says.

However, while YESAB acknowledges theimpact, it offers no sympathy.

"Outfitters will be adversely affected, but outfitters are only one component of the valued component of economic activity," the reportsays.

There are 19 outfittingconcessions in Yukon. The proposed road is located in or near four of them.

YESAB notes the combined 19 outfitting concessions in Yukon drive about $10 million dollars in economic activity to the territory every year.

The YESAB reportwill now be sent to the Yukon government and theNa-ChoNykDunFirst Nation.