Summerland council says no to mining activity

Summerland does not want any mining activity in its watershed — period.

Council has resoundingly approved sending a letter opposing Troubadour Resources’ proposed Amarillo project to the B.C. Ministry of Mines and Energy.

“I want the letter to be worded strongly,” Mayor Peter Waterman said at Monday’s council meeting.

The District of Summerland was unaware of the proposed copper exploration project to be undertaken in the Glen Lake area within the watersheds of both the districts of Summerland and Peachland until being notified by Peachland in April.

The province had already approved the project without referral to either municipality.

“A referral for such projects is standard practice,” Summerland director of works and utilities Kris Johnson told council.

(The FrontCounterBC website, which accepts applications for such work permits, states referrals “may occur” if a project “may impact” other parties.)

Although the exploration work has already been approved, the ministry has the ability to adjust its requirements or cancel the application, Johnson told council.

Summerland’s opposition to the project is supported by a report from Don Dobson of Dobson Engineering, an industry expert in local watersheds.

Dobson concluded the proposed work presents potential hazards to drinking water quality and the district’s watershed as a whole.

“The main concerns are that the claims are situated within the Trout Creek Watershed, which is licensed by the District of Summerland, and the proposed work in the Camp Creek area, which is a tributary to Trout Creek,” Johnson told council.

Dobson also had concerns regarding the proposed drill holes, trenching and use of inactive non-status forest roads.

Troubadour Resources president Geoff Schellenberg said in a phone interview Tuesday from Vancouver that he is aware of concerns, but suggested they’re misplaced for what he described as “a very early stage exploration project,” not than a mine.

The only work that’s been authorized by the province, he added, is 16 drill holes, three trenches and a geophysical survey that involves inserting metal rods into the earth to test the magnetic field below.

Schellenberg said the company plans to do the geophysical survey first, before deciding whether to proceed with drilling and trenching.

He also noted any ground disturbances must be remediated, and that if the project does proceed to the mining phase, it will be governed by strict environmental regulations.

And if there are concerns from the public, said Schellenberg, ‘We’ll address them along the way through the stages of exploration.”

An investor presentation on Troubadour’s website notes Amarillo’s location between a handful of rich copper mines in the region, such as Brenda, Highland Valley, Craigmonth and Copper Mountain.