by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 12/97) - A pond that turned brown near Royal Oak's Giant Mine last week is not toxic, says the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs.

Floyd Adlem, director of operations for the department, said Monday that results of sample tests from the pond -- located on the side of the Vee Lake turnoff -- have failing to show evidence of tailings effluent.

"We traced the cause of the discoloration to a lake two kilometres away from the pond," said Adlem.

Last week's warm temperatures caused the run-off, which gathered mud as it ran through the peatmoss, which in turn caused the pond's surface to turn brown, he said.

On Feb. 2, Dave Talbot, an 18-year Yellowknife resident and a vice-president of the Union of Northern Workers, discovered the discolored pond.

At the time, he said he believed it to be the result of a tailings leak containing arsenic, zinc, lead and cyanide.

He reported it to federal and territorial environment authorities who investigated, took water samples and traced where the brown liquid was coming from. In late January, Talbot launched a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the federal and territorial governments over what he says is negligence in dealing with highly toxic tailings pond leaks and spills.

If his suit is successful, he plans to use the money to help clean up the area's environment, he says.