De Beers gets rough ride at meeting on Snap Lake
Lutsel K'e worried about changes to water licence
Miranda Scotland
Northern News Services
Published Monday, February 9, 2015
LUTSEL K'E/SNOWDRIFT
De Beers was greeted with skepticism and doubt during a community meeting held recently in Lutsel K'e on the company's proposed water licence amendment for Snap Lake mine.
Two loaders work outside the ore processing and recovery plant at De Beers’ Snap Lake Diamond Mine. De Beers has applied for an amendment to its water licence to help deal with persistent underground challenges related to water control. - photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons |
Peter Unger, manager of wildlife, lands and environment for Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, said the majority of the 30 or 40 people who attended were opposed to the suggested changes.
"There were mixed reactions," said Unger. "Generally, the community didn't believe De Beers. There's not a lot of trust that the water would still be safe to drink."
The meeting was held Feb. 3 at the Zah Lockhart Memorial Hall.
De Beers is requesting approval from the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board to increase the limit on total dissolved solids allowed into Snap Lake to 1,000 milligrams per litre from 350 milligrams.
The company is struggling with the current discharge parameters of its water licence because the level was set based on inaccurate predictions.
The mine is seeing greater amounts of groundwater high in mineral salts than anticipated.
De Beers contends that the increase it is asking for won't negatively impact the environment or drinking water at the lake, which Lutsel K'e residents use to fish and drink from.
However, community members are hesitant to agree to the amendment for two reasons, said Unger.
"The perspective here is number one: their models were wrong once. What's to say their models are right now? They are only asking for an amendment based on a faulty model," said Unger.
"And then the second one is the taste of the water will change and this is not acceptable.
"It's a significant impact and it's going to lead to a change in perception, which is going to have the same impact on traditional livelihood as an actual health impact would. Because when people go and the water tastes different they're not going to know ... it's still fine. They're going to probably avoid it."
Community members, Unger said, would have liked De Beers to consult with them on the amendment sooner.
"We would like transparency and a longer period of engagement," said Unger.
The Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board recommended to the GNWT that the project be approved subject to measures and commitments set out in its report of environmental assessment, including that water licence conditions set by the board will protect "the aquatic ecosystem, traditional uses and drinking water." It will also ensure discharge from the mine is not detectable 44 km downstream.
De Beers will reduce the amount of total dissolved solids input into Snap Lake by introducing additional water treatment or other improvements.
In a letter dated Oct. 31, Lands Minister Robert C. McLeod stated the GNWT's approval of the project and the suggestions put forward by the board.
The amendment has not yet received final regulatory approval from the board.
De Beers declined to comment on the meeting or the application.
