Back River gold mine gets another go
Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada returns file to Nunavut Impact Review Board
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, January 30, 2017
KITIKMEOT
Sabina Gold and Silver Corporation's proposed Back River Gold Mine Project is getting a second chance, despite the Nunavut Impact Review Board's recommendation in June that the project not move forward.
In a Jan. 12 letter, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Carolyn Bennett requested the review board re-examine the file for the proposed mine site located 400 kilometres southwest of Cambridge Bay.
In its report, NIRB cites adverse effects on caribou, terrestrial wildlife, fish, freshwater and marine environments for rejecting the file, as well as associated adverse socio-economic effects that would result from damage to the environment.
But INAC called NIRB's conclusion premature.
"There are a number of areas where there was insufficient information presented in the report to support the conclusions of the board, and where further information is required so that the ministers may understand the rationale behind the conclusions presented by the board prior to making a decision on whether the project should proceed," Bennett stated.
INAC provided five areas it felt required more in-depth review, including handling of issues related to caribou and terrestrial wildlife, freshwater aquatic environments, marine environment, ground and surface water quality and treatment of climate and meteorology.
"The most challenging issue before the board relates to caribou," Bennett noted.
"It wasn't just that the company wasn't willing to go far enough, it was also the current health of the population (of the Bathurst caribou herd) from the most recent data we had available," said Nunavut Impact Review Board executive director Ryan Barry.
In a Jan. 15 release, WWF responded to the minister's letter with a reminder that in December, Canada's Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife assessed all barren-ground caribou in Canada as threatened.
Barry said the review board will soon be releasing documents in response to INAC.
"The board will be looking to provide Sabina with an opportunity to supply additional information to address those specific areas or uncertainty that were identified," he said. This includes submissions made since June 15.
"Since receiving the NIRB report Sabina has visited the Kitikmeot communities of Cambridge Bay, Kugluktuk, Kugaaruk, Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak and held over 16 formal meetings and public forums with Inuit and community representatives and community members," the company stated in a July 20 letter to INAC. "Over 230 community members participated in these sessions."
Kugluktuk elders Tommy Norberg, Alice Ayalik and Mona Tiktalek submitted a letter of support for the mine July 6.
"We want the Back River to move forward for jobs and benefits. Please keep the land and water clean for us and our animals. The project is important to us and our families. The community needs jobs."
Additional consideration would also include a partnership made between Sabina, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association and the Government of Nunavut in support of the project being returned to NIRB for reconsideration.
"After carefully reviewing NIRB's documents we decided that it was in the best interest of the Kitikmeot for the project to go back to NIRB for review, hopefully to get approval to go forward on this project in regards to employment and training," KIA president Stanley Anablak told Nunavut News/North in September.
The mine's deposits hold approximately 7.2 million ounces of gold. The mine would have a 10- to 12-year lifespan.
