Archbishop Again Urges Public Inquiry into Amax

Text of motion: Toronto, May 13, 1981 -- For immediate release; Two on-land spills of toxic mine tailings in less than a week, surprisingly high support at the Amax annual shareholders' meeting in New York and an interim report from the McInerney Scientific Review Panel which confirms many of the long-range fears of the Nishga Indians, environmental groups and church bodies ... a scenario which developed quickly in the past few days has prompted renewed cries for a public inquiry into the Amax Corporation's mine operation in Kitsault, British Columbia.; Archbishop E.W. Scott, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada, has sent another strong request to the Federal Government to "set up a public inquiry...as quickly as possible. In am convinced," the Archbishop continued, "such an inquiry would be in the best interests of the governments concerned, the Amax Company, the Nishga people and the general public."; The Primate's telex was sent on Tuesday, May 12th, to the Prime Minister; the Ministers of the Environment; Federal Fisheries and Oceans; and Indian and Northern Affairs.; The full text of the Archbishop's telex is enclosed.; - 30 -; For further information, please contact:; Peter Hamel; Consultant in National Affairs; or; Richard J. Berryman; Media Officer; Anglican Church of Canada; 600 Jarvis Street; Toronto, Ont. M4Y 2J6; (416) 924-9192

Notes: May 12, 1981; In the light of the Amax shareholders' action last week in New York whereby 1.5 million shares were voted in favour of our resolution calling for a moratorium and full public inquiry into the Kitsault marine disposal of tailings and a further 16 million abstained; and in the light of national public opinion and the many serious doubts raised by the McInerney interim report which confirms the validity of the fears expressed by the Nishga Tribal Council re the potential damage to marine life and human health, I again urge you to set up a public inquiry under the Public Inquiries Act as quickly as possible. I am convinced such an inquiry would be in the best interests of the governments concerned, the Amax Company, the Nishga people and the general public.; (Signed) Edward W. Scott; Primate,; The Anglican Church of Canada

Subjects: AMAX, Inc.; Tailings (Metallurgy); Mines and mineral resources - Canada; Mines and mineral resources - British Columbia; Mines and mineral resources - Environmental aspects - Canada; Ecology - British Columbia; Ecology - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Pollution - British Columbia; Pollution - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada; Scott, Edward W. (Edward Walter), 1919-2004; Nisga'a; Indigenous peoples - Canada - Anglican Church of Canada; Indigenous peoples - Canada; Corporate social responsibility - Canada