Yukon gov't rejects contentious Dome Road placer mine proposal

The Yukon government has rejected a controversial proposal to establisha new placer mine operationon the Dome Road in Dawson City, but said the project may be able to go ahead if cross-country skiers who use the area can be accommodated.

In rejecting the proposal, the governmentfollowedthe recommendation of the Yukon Environment and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB). The board concluded the plan for the mine fails to reasonably address the disruptions itwould cause for skiers.

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Miner Darrell Carey wantsto mine his placer claims under the community ski trails on the east side of the Dome Road.

Carey is already unpopular with Dawson'sDome Road residents because of his neighbourhood Slinky Mine.

In its written decision, the government says therejection of Carey's new proposal "does not mean that mining activity cannot occur in the area, provided suitable mitigation can be identified" to protect the ski trails.

Those mitigation measures could include "buffers, enhanced reclamation and revegetation, replacement of trails, and an altered 'footprint' of mining activity," the decision reads, but also says it is not the government's role to tell Carey what to do.

But it said a new proposal, designed in consultation with the First Nation and the townof Dawson City, would get due consideration from its assessors.

'A complete expropriation'

That's not likely to happen, says Carey's agent, Randy Clarkson.

"I don't think it's a legitimate option at this point," he said. "I don't think there's any room for negotiation or smoothing it over.

"They've tried to leave the door open, but it's really kind oflike, what's the expression? 'Don't let the screen door slam you on your ass as you leave.'"

Clarksonsaid Carey did offer to build new trails, but they were rejected as inadequate to replace the existing ones.

"So I'm not sure what further consultationor meetings... what benefit that would provide. I'm sure the government put that in there so it doesn't look like a complete expropriation, but that's de factowhat it is," he said.

Carey bought the claims earlier this year for $752,000, and Clarkson thinks the government should compensate him for at least that amount.

"I don't see what else is available," Clarkson said.