Vancouver - The Honourable Robert G. Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, announced today that the federal government will phase in changes to the way it regulates Yukon placer mining to better protect fish and fish habitat and to be more consistent with its treatment of other industries across Canada.

"Achieving consistency with other industries and with placer mining in other jurisdictions is crucial in terms of fairness and for the effective protection of the Yukon's fish and fish habitat," Mr. Thibault said.

The decision is the result of a mandatory review of the Yukon Placer Authorization (YPA), a class authorization under the Fisheries Act that has regulated placer gold mining in the Yukon since 1993.

Following the extensive consideration of recommendations resulting from the review, the Minister decided that the YPA should be phased out over a four-year period. During this transition period, existing placer mines will continue to operate under the YPA in 2003, to allow time to implement the required changes.

"I recognize the important contribution of placer gold mining to the Yukon," Mr. Thibault said. "In making my decision, I carefully considered input from a broad range of interested parties.

"I reviewed recommendations from the Yukon Placer Committee, which includes First Nations, the placer mining industry, government, and fishery and environmental groups. I also considered comments from other interests, as well as scientific and policy advice from my Department. I would like to thank all those who provided me with valuable recommendations."

Once the YPA is phased out, placer mines will be reviewed on a site-specific basis to determine potential habitat impacts. If damage to habitat cannot be avoided, a mine will require an individual Fisheries Act authorization. Other development proposals from a wide range of industries across Canada are reviewed in this manner under the habitat protection provisions of the Fisheries Act.

The Minister's decision was based on the fact that the standards in the YPA are inconsistent with current scientific advice and with environmental standards in other jurisdictions and other industries.

"Current science was an important consideration," the Minister said. "Since the authorization was signed in 1993, there is a greater understanding of the impact of sediment on fish and habitat, and of the habitat needs of fish in the Yukon."

Under the Fisheries Act, any harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat requires an authorization from the Minister. The YPA operates as a class authorization for Yukon placer mining.

The YPA specifies the classification of streams, the allowable sediment discharges under which the placer mining industry can operate, and plans for inspecting and monitoring. It also provides for the temporary deferment of water quality standards on streams. When the YPA was signed, the Yukon Placer Committee was established to implement the authorization.

Although existing mines will continue to operate under the YPA in 2003, no new applications to defer water quality standards will be considered.

As with other industries, DFO will develop guidelines to help placer miners comply with the Fisheries Act. These guidelines, to be developed in 2003, will include operating practices and environmental standards that are more consistent with other jurisdictions and that are based on current scientific knowledge.

After these guidelines and standards are developed, the Department will begin phasing in site-specific reviews. The Department will streamline the review process to reduce the burden on small mining operations. For example, where practical, reviews will be grouped together through watershed-based environmental assessments.

Contacts:

Caroline Quinn
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(613) 992-3474

Gordon Zealand
Area Director, Yukon and Transboundary
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(867) 393-6719