Doug Ashbury and Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

With hopes of completing an environmental agreement for the Diavik project today, the federal government was holding its cards very close to its vest last night.

"We're in the process of having some discussions and that's where the discussion is at right now," said Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development associate regional director general Lorne Tricoteux Thursday, immediately after that day's negotiation broke up.

On Wednesday, one of Tricoteux's bosses, director general Hiram Beaubier was optimistic about the outcome of the talks.

"My sense is that everyone is coming at negotiations from a positive point of view," said Beaubier.

"The environmental agreement was under negotiation for some time. A good portion is settled."

Asked if he felt optimistic about an agreement being reached today, Tricoteux responded, "I'm not going to comment on that. We're in the process of discussing the agreement."

Tricoteux said all of the parties involved in the talks were still at the table.

The agreement will formalize the environmental monitoring requirements for the proposed diamond mine, located 280 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife.

Earlier this week a territorial official said leaders of the five aboriginal groups affected by the mine were scheduled to discuss a draft agreement amongst themselves this morning. Later in the day, they will sit down with negotiators for DIAND, Diavik and the territorial government in an attempt to hammer out an agreement.

An agreement is needed before Diavik can seek a permit to begin preliminary work at the Lac de Gras site. Citing the lack of an environmental pact, DIAND denied to issue such a permit last week.

There is some urgency in talks as Diavik needs to send hundreds of truckloads of equipment and material up an ice road to the site. It's expected to be open to full traffic in the next two weeks and is usually only open for about 65 days.