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EarthCare requests the Mining Association and Teck Cominco to withdraw from land use negotiations

December 20, 2002 (Kelowna. B.C.)

The Canadian EarthCare Society is requesting the Mining Association of B.C., backed by Teck Cominco, to immediately withdraw from land use negotiations in British Columbia. Teck Cominco released it's position on land use in the South Chilcotin region on its website and also in a letter to The Globe and Mail earlier in the week

"Teck Cominco clearly supports the Mining Association of B.C. lobby to dismantle South Chilcotin Mountains Park," says Lloyd Manchester, Senior Policy Advisor for the Canadian EarthCare Society, based out of Kelowna, B.C.

"The Mining Association of British Columbia supports the position that the Government of British Columbia should maintain the 12 percent protected area goal, and on that basis believes the park [South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park] should be limited to 3,000 hectares," states Teck Cominco. "As a member of the Association, Teck Cominco has supported that position.

"Since we are currently above 12 percent protection, the Mining Association of B.C. is negotiating in bad faith in current land use processes, including the Central and North Coast Land and Resource Management Planning processes," Manchester says.

"If Teck Cominco supports an ecologically representative network of protected areas, then they should support more protection to achieve this goal. Unfortunately, we haven't yet reached a point in the province where we have adequate ecosystem representation."

"If Teck Cominco is committed to being responsible as they say, they should reconsider their position. If not, then they and the Mining Association of B.C. should immediately withdraw from current and future land use negotiations in the province, Manchester demands"

For further information contact: Lloyd Manchester, Canadian EarthCare Society: (250) 712-9713

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