Fort Simpson (July 23/04) - Canadian Zinc Corporation is hoping to strike new veins of support through communication in the Deh Cho.

Owners of the Prairie Creek mine -- approximately 105 km northwest of Nahanni Butte -- Vancouver-based Canadian Zinc has opened an office in Fort Simpson, hired a local staff person in former Liidlii Kue First Nation chief Rita Cli and is offering three scholarships to Deh Cho students.

John Kearney, who chairs Canadian Zinc's board of directors, said his company is seeking to stem misinformation about the mine project, which was developed in 1982 by previous owners and has never been in operation.

"What we want to do is get a means of communication between ourselves and the communities," Kearney said. "We want feedback."

The company also arranged for two charter flights of elected leaders and residents from Fort Simpson and Fort Liard to tour the mine last week.

What the visitors saw was two drill rigs in operation. Canadian Zinc is drilling 30-35 holes in hopes of finding more than the known 11.5 million tonne resource. Based on current projections, the mine will have a 20 year lifespan, but the outcome of the exploration program may extend that, Kearney said.

This is not a short-term, in and out thing," he said. "When this thing (operates), it's going to be there for a good, long spell."

If and when the mine goes into production -- which would be within 12 months of receiving the proper permits, according to Kearney -- 170-200 jobs would be created, he said. At present, 19 people are working at the site and several of them are from the Deh Cho.

One of the primary environmental concerns that has been cited is the 40 tonnes of cyanide stored at Prairie Creek over the past 20 years. Kearney said re-opening an old mining road used prior to 1984 is crucial to trucking out the cyanide. His company wants to remove the toxic chemical, the public and elected leaders want it out, but Parks Canada's opposition to the use of the access road is preventing it, he contended.

Nahanni Butte backs out

He added that the road would also be used to re-supply the mine with various supplies including fuel.

"All mining has risks associated with it, but it just has to be managed properly," Kearney said of the industry.

Last October, the Nahanni Butte Dene Band withdrew from its 1996 cooperation agreement with Canadian Zinc. In April, Chief Peter Marcellais told the Drum that he would like to see the Prairie Creek mine site eliminated.

Last week, Dan O'Rourke, Canadian Zinc's community and Northern affairs advocate, said his company is seeking to sit down and talk with Marcellais.

Cli said there are Nahanni Butte residents working at the mine who want it to stay open. She added, "Not too many people (in Nahanni Butte) know what's going on" with the mine.

Political backing is one challenge for Canadian Zinc, regulatory hurdles are another. Permitting has become painstakingly slow since the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act came into existence, Kearney said. The regulatory process is not working efficiently, he said, referring to the two-and-a-half years it took the company to obtain a permit for an underground drilling program.

"Too much legal action"

The Dehcho First Nations has repeatedly opposed the company's applications for land-use permits. On the approved underground exploration permit, the DFN has called for a judicial review of the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board's decision.

"We're involved in far too much legal action... and not enough in exploration and development," an exasperated Kearney said.