Uranium claims returned to Province
By Boundary Sentinel
Boss Power Corp. surrendered its uranium exploration and mining rights to the Province of B.C. for $30 million this week. The negotiated settlement comes after Boss Power launched a law suit in 2009 after the province announced a prohibition against uranium exploration and development in 2008. The agreement gives the Crown the mineral rights to the Blizzard uranium deposit located near Big White Ski Resort and Beaverdell, B.C. The province will pay Boss Power Corp. the agreed price, plus legal costs, to compensate for the economic value of the uranium deposit. In 2008, the province announced that it would not support uranium exploration and development, and prohibited related permits being issued to any company in 2009. At that time, Boss Power Corp. held a pre-existing claim to uranium deposits in that area. Local area residents had fought the mining of uranium in the area for many years with concerns for safety of wildlife, water supplies and overall environmental impact of uranium mining.
The 2003 and the 2007 B.C. Energy Plans do not permit the production of nuclear power in the Province.
