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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The board in charge of the environmental monitoring of Diavik's operation has been asked by the company to temporarily shutdown.

"We've asked (the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board) to have a look at their operations to see if they can shut down their operations during our two temporary shutdowns," said Doug Ashbury, communications advisor with Diavik Diamond Mines.

Diavik will suspend production from July 14 to Aug. 24 and Dec. 1, 2009 to Jan. 11, 2010 as a cost saving measure.

"I think it's important that we are asking them to have a look at what is reasonable," said Ashbury.

"We have an economic situation right now that is very challenging and we are trying to achieve savings in every area that we can."

Diavik sent the request via a letter to the advisory board more than a week ago.

The board - funded by Diavik - was created in March 2000, after a recommendation during Diavik's environmental assessment called for the creation of an independent environmental monitoring board.

John McCullum, executive director of the advisory board, said his group is a Diavik watchdog.

The eight-person board is comprised of representatives from five aboriginal groups, the territorial and federal governments, and Diavik.

Diavik has already saved costs with the board by cutting back on its usual $600,000 in annual funding.

Ashbury wouldn't disclose how much the funding was reduced by this year.

He also added the company asked the board to use past surpluses to cover the shortfalls.

McCullum said the board was not pleased by the reduction in funding and disagreed with definitions of surpluses. He said the board has recommended the issue be taken to dispute resolution.

"Yes, they did reduce the funding, but certainly we don't agree with that," he said.

McCullum said the reduction in funds will affect the board's ability to perform its duties as the mine's environmental watchdog. He added the board has yet to sit down and discuss Diavik's request.

McCullum said the members of the board will be getting together in mid-to-late April to decide what to do about Diavik's request.

He said despite the production shutdown, the mine will still be there.

"There will be people on site, they will still be pumping water and there will still be wildlife around site," he said.

McCullum said the board is also responsible for providing information to communities on what is happening at the mine site, reviewing Diavik's environmental reports and incorporating traditional knowledge into implementation of environmental monitoring plans.

Ashbury said the summer period might be a bit more challenging to reduce costs as there are more environmental monitoring activities that happen during that time.

Ashbury said the mine's environmental monitoring programs will continue.

"We will do all of the work that we need to do to meet our regulatory requirements," he said. "We wouldn't ask EAMB to have a look at this if we thought it would translate into less environmental protection."

McCullum disagreed with that assessment.

"With less money, we can do less things and that's the long and short of it," he said.