The aftershocks from the Mount Polley mine disaster just keep coming for Imperial Metals (TSX:III), which is now being given an eviction notice by First Nations from an area north of Kamloops where the company is looking to develop a zinc-lead mine.
The Neskonlith Indian Band has issued an eviction notice to the company, which has been doing metallurgical testing on its Ruddock Creek property, 155 kilometres northeast of Kamloops.
Imperial owns 50% of the property. The balance is held by two Japanese companies - Mitsui Mining and Smelting Co. Ltd. and Itochu Corp.
The Neskonlith, part of the Secwepemc First Nation (Shuswap), points to the August 4 collapse of an earthen dam that released 10 million tonnes of water and 4.5 million tonnes of mine slurry into Hazeltine Creek, and Polley and Quesnel lakes as a potential threat to salmon-bearing waters, should Imperial get approval for a new zinc-lead mine.
The area feeds into the Adams Lake system – the largest, most important lake system for the Fraser River sockeye.
“Neskonlith has not signed any agreements with the province or Imperial Metals,” the band said in a statement.
“We have not provided our consent to the proposed mining development. We assert Secwepemc inherent jurisdiction and aboriginal title. Notice is hereby issued to Imperial Metals owners, employees, insurers, and investors that Neskonlith will not provide access to our lands for the Ruddock Creek mining development.”
Imperial Metals could not be reached for comment.
