Mine exploration at 16 Mile is still on hole while HDI Constantia pours over the samples they took out of the ground this year, but they expect to continue to the next stage in 2015, said the company’s Sr. Manager Myke Clark.
Clark was asked at the Aug. 18 Cache Creek Council meeting whether the Neskonlith Band’s recent notice of eviction to the Ruddock Creek Mining Operation, half owned by Imperial Metal, or the Shuswap Tribal Council’s recommendation to all of its members that all mining activities be considered halted would have an effect on the Maggie Mine operation.
“That’s a very good question,” said Clark. “And a very difficult one for me to answer.”
What happened at Mt. Polley was unfortunate, he said. It will change the way BC mines operate in the future. He declined to comment on any of the company’s talks with the Bonaparte Indian Band, but did say “We haven’t been told by anyone to stop doing what we’re doing.”
He added that it didn’t mean the issue couldn’t be discussed.
Mayor John Ranta offered the Village’s assistance “if there’s a way through our relationship with the band” that it could mediate.