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Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie says he is considering the recommendations of the Peel Watershed Planning Commission's proposed land-use plan for the Peel River region.
The final plan, released last week, calls for 80 per cent — or about 56,000 square kilometres — of land in the Peel River watershed in northeast Yukon to be protected from mineral staking and other industrial development.
The recommendation is 20 per cent more than what the commission called for in its draft plan, which it released earlier this year to widespread criticism from the Yukon's mining industry.
It's up to the Yukon government to make a decision on the commission's final plan, whether it's to approve it or amend it.
Fentie would not give a timeline on his government's review of the plan, but said First Nations and other affected parties will have to be consulted.
"Always we hope that we can do these things in a timely, effective and efficient manner," Fentie told CBC News on Tuesday.
"We must make sure that we don't deviate from our obligations under the Umbrella Final Agreement, and that's where we're at today with the next steps that we are following."
Mining industry officials have panned the final plan, while environmentalists and some First Nations have applauded it.
Environmental groups have also been calling on the premier to impose a moratorium on mineral staking in the Peel region until the final report is approved, but Fentie would not commit to doing that.
"What the environmental groups are suggesting is very valuable input. We take that under advisement. It's part of the process we're in right now in determining, you know, what we do on the outcome of the internal review," he said.
"The engagement with those affected communities and First Nations, that has to be done first before any final decision-making can come into effect."
Fentie also would not say whether he approves of the recommended plan.
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