Four mining claims staked last Friday along the city's riverfront and across several city blocks downtown have been rejected by the mining recorder.

Tim Smith of the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources explained this morning the mining recorder is obligated to receive the applications, but not record them.

In this case, he said, the mining recorder determined there was prior interest in the area staked, which made the area ineligible for staking.

Smith said the applicant has the ability to seek a judicial review of the mining recorder's decision.

The rejected claims were staked by W.S. Carrell, complete with claim posts made from trees cut down along the riverbank and surveyor's tape marking the centre line along the waterfront.

One of the claim posts is strapped to a new light standard along the Millennium Trail. Trees have been blazed with an axe.

The area runs from near The Kanoe People at the north end of the claim block south to include a section of Rotary Peace Park.

Two of the four claims reach across the Yukon River and include the river bottom and most of the residential properties along Wickstrom Road, according to a map provided with the application to the mining recorder's office.

Two claims run westward from the waterfront and take in several city blocks from the river to the other side of Fourth Avenue.

The Star left a phone message with Wade Carrell this morning, but did not hear back regarding his motivation for staking ground in the heart of the downtown area.

Smith said now that the recorder has rejected the claims, the Yukon government doesn't have any authority over the claim posts and surveyor's tape left behind.

The city, however, could probably remove the posts and tape, as they have no legitimate standing, he said.

Smith said he doesn't know and could not speak to Carrell's rationale.

"It's not for us to speculate as to what his intention may or may not have been.”

Municipalities across the Yukon have been concerned for years about the ability for exploration and mining companies to stake mineral claims inside municipal boundaries and inside residential areas.

The Quartz Mining Act does provide the ability for municipalities to negotiate the withdrawal of certain lands from staking.

Smith acknowledged the city and Yukon government have been working through that exercise, and it's his understanding the downtown was already included in the list of areas to be withdrawn from staking.

Carrell staked the claims Friday and attempted to register them with the mining recorder shortly after 3 p.m. that day

The claims were rejected, and the government issued a press release at 5:21 p.m. explaining why.

The Quartz Mining Act, according to the release states that: "Any area cultivated (such as with shrubs, trees, turf and plants) and occupied by any building is prohibited from entry for staking.”