Natives want court to dump toxic waste site plan

Natives want court to dump toxic waste site plan
By PETER ZIMONJIC
<http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/National/2009/01/10/pf-7980516.html>
A First Nations group took its fight to stop a picturesque lake in the B.C. Interior from being turned into a toxic dump to the province's Supreme Court this week.
The Xeni Gwet'in appeared in court Tuesday to try and save Fish Lake from being used as a dump for waste from a massive mine operated by Taseko Mines Ltd.
"I can't imagine anyone wanting to destroy a lake and poison the waters downriver," said Chief Marilyn Baptiste in a statement.
Fish Lake is home to a genetically unique species of rainbow trout, and has an estimated population of 85,000 fish. The lake is still under environmental review. If approved for destruction, Fish Lake will join Sandy Pond in Newfoundland, Tail Lake and the northwest arm of Second Portage Lake in Nunavut, and Manitoba's Bucko Lake, which were approved as waste sites in 2008.
Wolfgang Zilker, a local activist, is also trying to protect the lake with his website www.protectfishlake.ca.
"There are precious few places like this left in the world and it would be a shame for it to be destroyed by a mining operation," said Zilker.