Protect the Taku Watershed from the Tulsequah Chief Road and Mine Project

Whereas the Taku River is the third largest salmon-producing river in Canada and the watershed is home to significant wildlife populations, including grizzly and black bears, wolves, lynx, wolverine, fisher, eagles, Stone sheep, mountain goats, moose, and the threatened mountain caribou.

Whereas the Taku Watershed is threatened by a 160 km long mining road that would damage fish habitat, open up wildlife populations to increased hunting pressure, and open the region up to various mining and logging operations.

Whereas the Department of Fisheries and Oceansн recent environmental assessment approval of the Tulsequah Chief mine and road project ignores the concerns raised by scientists in the Canadian Wildlife Service, by fisheries biologists, and by the Independent Science Panel.

Whereas the Taku Watershed is in the territory of the Taku River Tlingit First Nations, who have stated opposition to any major developments in their territory without adequate consultation and in the absence of any land-use plan.

Whereas 99\% of over 4200 submissions to the public input process on the Draft Screening Report on the Tulsequah Chief mine and road project opposed the project.

We, the undersigned, call on the federal government to protect the Taku Watershed by rejecting the Tulsequah Chief mine and road project.