An application to renew a mineral exploration permit inside the Tombstone Territorial Park has exploded overnight into the largest file ever handled by a key regulatory board.

In the last 24 hours, Dawson City's designated office of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) has received more than 500 comments on-line – and counting.

Most – almost all according to a random sample – are opposed.

Many are remarkably similar in nature, citing the need to protect critical wildlife habitat and maintain the attractiveness of the park as a tourist destination.

Canadian United Minerals has applied to the YESAB for a renewal of its five-year exploration permit. The previous five-year permit, its second five-year permit, expired in May.

Controversy over the 18 quartz claims goes back a decade when the company was accused of a staking "nuisance claims” just ahead of the staking moratorium which was imposed while planning for the park moved into high gear.

Canadian United, however, has countered that the claims have legitimate potential to yield an operating gold mine.

Canadian United owner Joel White could not be reached for comment today.

Lewis Rifkind, the mining co-ordinator for the Yukon Conservation Society, agreed this morning that some of the comments received over the last day from across North America are similar.

He suspects they orginate out of a call to action by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

While most are from outside the Yukon, one has to remember the YESAB has invited public comment without borders, and the Tombstone Territorial Park is known to many around the world, he said.

Rifkind said the Yukon government, after all, has made it the hallmark of its campaign to promote tourism.

Rob Yeomans, the YESAB's spokesman, said he too recognized a similarity among many of the submissions.

But he said staff will give each one its full and fair consideration.

The Dawson office, he said, is committed to delivering its recommendation to the Yukon government in the first week of August.

The deadline to comment on the application is tomorrow.

Last week, Rifkind renewed the call upon the government to do something to have Canadian United agree to surrender the mineral claims.

If the debate is red-hot now, during exploration work, one can imagine what it would be like if the company applied to establish a working mine with a year-round, all-weather road connection to the Dempster Highway, he suggested.

Rifkind maintains the YESAB is not where the debate will end.

The environmental screening agency weighs applications on the nuts and bolts of the proposal, he reiterated this morning.

He said the government, on the other hand, is in the political position to invite discussion with the company to see if they can reach a mutual agreement to give up the claims.

Premier Dennis Fentie was in meetings this morning and unavailable to discuss the notion.

Before losing office in late 2002, then-Liberal premier Pat Duncan refused to entertain any sort of negotiations with Canadian United.

The company also stated publicly it was interested in working the claims, not talking about how to surrender them.

There was also a legal attempt by the Tr'ondek Hwech'in Han Nation of Dawson City to have the claims quashed by a section of its land claims that commits to protection of the Tombstone park for all time. In the end, the courts upheld the company's right to access and work the claims.

The Tr'ondek have restated their objections to the exploration permit last month in a joint submission to the YESAB. It is signed by Chief Simon Mervyn of Mayo's First Nation of Nacho Nyak Dun and Chief Richard Nerysoo of Fort McPherson's Gwich'in Tribal Council.

Of the 15 submissions chosen randomly by this Star this morning from the hundreds received in the last 24 hours, one is from a Whitehorse resident who hikes in the park; five are from B.C., three of whom have hiked in the park; four are from Alberta and opposed in principle; and two are from the United States, and opposed in principle.

There were no letters of support for the application.