Prospectors fear impact of new environmental laws, Kasner says mining firms are more welcome in Chile.

• Author: Bickford, Paul
• Position: Robert Kasner - Gold Mining Report

Prospectors fear impact of new environmental laws, Kasner says mining firms are more welcome in Chile

Junior mining companies and prospectors don't feel they should be the targets of federal environmental legislation now in the development process.

Basically, they feel their activities are not environmental hazards.

And, unlike large corporations such as Inco, which can spend millions of dollars reducing its sulphur dioxide emissions, smaller players say they can't afford to spend big bucks.

Robert Ginn, president of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), said prospecting is a "rather benign" activity, although he admits that, at times, some individuals have misbehaved.

While he admitted there are opportunities for abuse in diamond drilling, he said the operation has become more environmentally conscious.

"Exploration is a non-destructive activity," he said, explaining that technology has gotten ahead of the problems of former years. "The sins of the past simply won't recur."

On March 29, then environment minister Lucien Bouchard unveiled the first phase of the federal government's Green Plan, A National Challenge.

The document, subtitled a A Framework for Discussion on the Environment, provides background information, asks Canadians 40 questions and urges the public to become involved in the consultation process leading to new legislation.

Ginn observed that the discussion paper is non-specific. "There's really nothing in it one can disagree with."

From his reading of it, he said, "We don't see anything there that is a threat to the industry."

However, Ginn said he has some concern about the specific laws that will result from the process.

In addition, he believes that the consultation process of workshops and briefings is insufficient, adding that the government appears to have a sense of urgency concerning the legislation.

He warned that such a major undertaking can't be rushed into. "They need time for balanced discussion."

HARDER TIMES

Kirkland Lake's Robert Kasner, president of Greater Lenora Resources Corp. and RJK Mineral Corp., said he heard an explanation of the discussion paper at a PDAC meeting, but he doesn't have much to say about it.

"I don't react to it," he commented. "I'm doing most of my work in Chile now."

In that South American country, mining firms are welcomed, Kasner explained.

In Canada, however, he believes smaller companies are going to find it harder to do anything...