Cruise ship giant Holland America will be in Dawson City, Yukon, next week to consult with residents about its Yukon Queen II tourist boat, which has been the subject of controversy in recent years.
Holland America is hosting a public meeting in Dawson City, as well as a meeting with the Tr'ondek Hwech'in Han Nation, as it seeks government approvals to operate the high-speed catamaran in the Yukon River.
The Yukon Queen II has taken summer tourists on 164-kilometre river tours between Dawson City and Eagle, Alaska.
But over the years, Dawson City residents have raised concerns about the high-powered ship's wake eroding river shorelines and disrupting salmon habitats.
In 2008, after the Yukon Queen II had been operating for several summers, Holland America asked the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans for authorization to operate a vessel that may result in the destruction of fish populations or habitat.
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Cruise ship giant Holland America will be in Dawson City, Yukon, next week to consult with residents about its Yukon Queen II tourist boat, which has been the subject of controversy in recent years.
Holland America is hosting a public meeting in Dawson City, as well as a meeting with the Tr'ondek Hwech'in Han Nation, as it seeks government approvals to operate the high-speed catamaran in the Yukon River.
The Yukon Queen II has taken summer tourists on 164-kilometre river tours between Dawson City and Eagle, Alaska.
But over the years, Dawson City residents have raised concerns about the high-powered ship's wake eroding river shorelines and disrupting salmon habitats.
In 2008, after the Yukon Queen II had been operating for several summers, Holland America asked the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans for authorization to operate a vessel that may result in the destruction of fish populations or habitat.
New proposal coming: board
That request sparked a top-level review by the Yukon Environmental and Socio-Economic Assessment Board (YESAB), which has asked Holland America to hold public consultations before it submits a new proposal.
"Our indication now is that we'll be receiving a project proposal at the end of May or early June," YESAB spokesman Stephen Mills said Tuesday.
Mills said it is also important that Yukoners give their feedback after Holland America submits its new proposal.
"There will be new information, the proposal will be updated by Holland America, and so it's very important for people to continue to provide the good input that they provided through the designated office evaluation previously," he said.
Holland America's public meeting will take place May 12, at the Westmark Inn, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2010/05/05/yukon-queen-yesab.html#ixzz0mzwjxUlz
w proposal coming: board
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2010/05/05/yukon-queen-yesab.html#ixzz0mzwjxUlz
Ottawa International Poets and Writers for human Rights (OIPWHR)
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