Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (May 17/99) - Though the finish line of the Diavik environmental review is within arm's reach, the race against the clock is getting more difficult by the minute.

In six or seven weeks, federal Environment Minister Christine Stewart is scheduled to make a decision on whether or not the proposed diamond mine will proceed.

Allowing for the mandatory 30-day period for public comment following the minister's receipt of the report on the Diavik environmental review, the report must be completed by the end of this month for the decision deadline to be reached.

That's a tall order, considering the first draft of the 300-page report was completed only last week and the number of issues that remain unresolved.

Aboriginal authority

Topping the list is how much say aboriginal groups, specifically the Treaty 11 Dogribs, have in whether or not the mine is approved.

Dogrib Treaty 8 chose not to be part of the federal environmental review process. Instead, they have been conducting a parallel process, completing three separate studies (on water, wildlife and the potential impact on caribou in the region) using independent experts.

Two weeks ago, Diavik representatives spent three days meeting with the Dogribs in Rae to discuss Treaty 11 concerns about the project.

"We requested additional information on some of the issues that were brought up during the discussions," said Dogrib Treaty 11 Council land claims manager Ted Blondin.

Last Thursday, Blondin said Diavik was finalizing responses to those requests.

The Dogrib assessment will be considered separately from the federal review. The Dogribs will be submitting their review, which they anticipate will be completed by the end of this month, directly to the minister, said Blondin.

Asked whether the mine will proceed if one or more Aboriginal groups opposes it, DIAND spokesperson Lorne Tricoteux said it likely would.

"Ultimately, whether somebody disagrees with the project going ahead and the federal government approves it through the (review and regulatory stages), I would have to say, yes, the project would go ahead, because that's the decision," said Tricoteux.

"If people feel their legal rights have been infringed upon, they have legal rights to other recourse."

He added that though Diavik's desires were considered in developing the schedule for the review, they were not the driving force.

The company expects that it will need a decision by late June or early July to organize the purchase and shipment of construction supplies for the coming winter road season.

Diavik spokesperson Tom Hoefer said last week that DIAND is still on target to meet that deadline.