REPRODUCIBILITY This is one of the most important words in science. The cancer screening tests that I have mentioned in the past have provided very similar results in published clinical trials. REPRODUCIBILITY of results is why we are so confident that the test works!
However, I have rarely heard reproducibility mentioned, let alone emphasized in regards to the Morrison mine.
The Granisle mine was built on an island in Lake Babine. The waste rock was literally dumped right into Lake Babine and still no significant adverse effects.
The Bell mine was built right on the shore of Lake Babine and the waste rock was literally placed right on the bank of the lake and still no significant adverse effects.
The Morrison mine has essentially the very same ore and so one would expect the same outcome of no significant adverse effects. Plus, the tailings pond is 1.8 kilometers away from Morrison and has a liner to prevent leakage.
Granisle and Bell wasterock is either in the lake or right on the shore and still 50+ years later they have had no significant problems.
Can BC politicians name a mine with two "test" mines nearby to validate the safety?
It is such a rare opportunity to predict safety when there are 2 almost identical mines nearby.
COMMON SENSE is lacking here.
Due to the historical interactions, there are good reasons a lot of FN people have a tendency to not trust Governments. My sense is that before John and the LBN were at odds, that a lot of technical data was shared with LBN. I really appreciate the technical data. However, that said, I never saw much "Common Sense" being shared. Perhaps some was shared, and I was not party to it, but it seems to me that likely not much common sense was shared.
For example, historically there were approx. 500,000 sockeye and now with the hatcheries there are approx. 1.2 million Lake Babine sockeye. The run has more than doubled, despite the Granisle and Bell mines.
Common sense would dictate that the Morrison mine would not reduce the run. Keep in mind that there are only approx 18,000 Morrison creek, Morrison lake, Tahlo creek and Tahlo lake sockeye. When I calculated last, it worked out that in the event of a disaster, that at most, only 1.6% or less than 2% of Lake Babine sockeye could be impacted.
I don't know the path forward, but I think a little common sense would not hurt. At a minimum, it would at least make many LBN feel more at ease about the project.