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Dawson water board hearing delayed

Dawson water board hearing delayed Darrel Carey's application to the Yukon Water Board for a proposed placer mine in Dawson has been delayed. Carey needs his licence approved before he can build a placer mine on Dawson's Midnight Dome.

Darrel Carey’s application to the Yukon Water Board for a proposed placer mine in Dawson has been delayed.

Carey needs his licence approved before he can build a placer mine on Dawson’s Midnight Dome.

A lack of mapping information and details on groundwater use are required before the board can hold a hearing on the issue, said board manager Carola Scheu.

Carey’s application lacked a detailed mining plan of where he wants to mine and how much material would be processed.

The proposed Slinky Mine has encountered stiff resistance from Dawson residents and has raised the issue of miners’ rights versus those of citizens.

Dawsonites are concerned the project, which is slated to operate for 10 years, will create noise and safety issues, destroy ski and biking trails and will devalue nearby homes. The project would also require that a section of the Dome Road be rerouted.

Citizens have requested the Yukon Territory Water Board hold a public hearing on the issue. Normally, for type B water applications they don’t.

The Yukon government has been relatively silent on whether it will allow the mine to go ahead. In March, the government gave the green light to a housing subdivision as well as the mine, both occupying the same piece of land.

The government has said it will wait on the results of the water board hearing before it makes its decision.

Meanwhile, Dawson forced a stop-work order on Carey a couple weeks ago for clearing trees and brush off his land. The city threatened a court injunction against Carey if he continues to clear the land without first requesting a development permit from the city.

The board hopes to know by early June whether it will hold a public hearing on the issue, said Scheu.

Already 15 groups have applied for intervention of Carey’s mine application.