Inuvik (Feb 03/06) - It's a 635 square kilometre refuge for migratory birds and at last week's National Energy Board hearings, issues surrounding development inside the Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary were highlighted.

Though the sanctuary is located within the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, responsibility for its management rests with Environment Canada under the Migratory Birds Act.

"Environment Canada is aware from reading your materials that footprint has been an issue," said Cayley Thomas of Imperial Oil's application to develop Taglu field.

"And even though we're not talking large areas of land here, we are talking only a total of 6.35 km that can be developed within Kendall Island so every little bit is of interest to Environment Canada."

Imperial plans to utilize 30 hectares of the sanctuary to construct its Taglu field operations, what Imperial says represents 0.05 per cent of the entire protected area. According to Environment Canada, only one per cent of the bird sanctuary can be open to development.

While it's not expected to be a decisive issue with respect to the NEB decision regarding the pipeline, it is possible the board hearing panel could put conditions to any further development within the sanctuary.

For Inuvialuit beneficiary Richard Gordon, who made a statement during the public participation phase at the hearings Saturday, the issue is a bit prickly. "We as aboriginal people are told we cannot hunt in certain bird sanctuaries because they are protected under law," he said. "But an oil company comes into this area and they are given the privilege of going into these places."

Both during his statement and in conversation afterwards, Gordon said he was not against the pipeline, but felt people have not been properly informed of what development is in store if the gas project gets the go-ahead.

Among bird species prevalent in the region, the Kendall Island Bird Sanctuary provides habitat for upwards of 7,500 Lesser Snow Geese.