The provincial government and Boss Power have settled in a dispute involving the Blizzard uranium deposit.
According to a release from the provincial government, “Boss Power has agreed to surrender to the Province of B.C. all claims to its uranium exploration and mining rights at the Blizzard Uranium Deposit,” which is situated north of Beaverdell.
As part of a negotiated settlement, the province will pay Boss Power $30 million, in addition to legal costs, to compensate the company for the “economic value of the uranium deposit” and will gain the rights to the deposit.
Concerned citizen and advocate Erika Tafel, who was originally supposed to testify against Boss Power at the trial, was able to sit in on the short trial.
The trial was over before begun, as Boss Power immediately accepted the compensation, stated Tafel.
“It was disappointing in one way and frightening in another,” stated Tafel. “I’m not at all surprised but I was afraid they would come to an agreement before it went to court.”
The trial, which Tafel said was completed in 10 minutes, is the start of another problem. “Because the government agreed to pay-out Boss Power’s claim there is another couple now trying to get compensation for their uranium claim,” she said.
In September 2010, Boss Power President and CEO Randy Rogers told the Grand Forks Gazette that the issue with the provincial government involved an application for exploration drilling permits the company applied for in April 2008.
Shortly after applying, Apr. 24, 2008 to be exact, Rogers said that the province enacted a regulation under the Mineral Tenure Act and began prohibiting the staking of new claims for uranium and thorium and while it applied only to new applications, Boss Power was refused a work permit.
The provincial government would also prohibit further work permits for uranium and thorium through an Order in Council on Mar. 12, 2009.
Rogers was contacted but was unable to return a call before press time.
Boss Power had an existing uranium deposit claim in the area at the time.
The B.C. government said that the settlement supports the province’s goal of ensuring mining exploration is safe, sustainable and economically benefits residents of B.C.
Tafel disagreed with the B.C. government’s ruling.
“My goals have not changed,” Tafel stated. “My goal is to make it permanent. It’s a guard dog without any teeth. I don’t believe our watershed is any safer today than it was before the moratorium in 1980 – in fact I think it’s more in risk of contamination from nuclear products.”
Currently, the B.C. government has an Order in Council in place, which is not considered a ban and it can be rescinded without public debate.