Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Oct 14/05) - Opposition to Canadian Zinc Corp.'s plans to broaden its exploratory drilling remains greatest in the community closest to the action.

Nahanni Butte Chief Eric Betsaka said he and his band council object to any development at the Prairie Creek mine site for spiritual and cultural reasons.

David Harpley, environmental co-ordinator for Canadian Zinc Corporation, answered questions during last week's public hearing in Fort Simpson. The company's proposed drilling program at the Prairie Creek mine is being assessed by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board A new permit was required. Canadian Zinc reports having 10 employees, mostly from the Deh Cho, and a payroll of $700,000 in 2004 The mine lies 32 km upstream from the boundary of Nahanni National Park Reserve and about 90 km northwest of Nahanni Butte The mine was granted a land-use permit for up to 60 drill sites in 2001, but those locations were within one kilometre of the mine. With new funding, Canadian Zinc wanted to expand its exploratory drilling and sought an amendment to the permit.

The lands around the mine are used by Nahanni Butte hunters and trappers, and they fear for the well being of the wildlife, Betsaka explained during an environmental assessment hearing in Fort Simpson on Oct. 6.

Dan O'Rourke, community and Northern affairs advocate for Canadian Zinc, said the company anticipates "very minor" disturbance to wildlife habitat. The base metals mine will need a road link to the highway if it is ever to be operational. It could eventually enhance hunters' and trappers' access to the area, O'Rourke suggested.

Allow more harvesters

Betsaka countered that a road would also allow more harvesters from elsewhere to come into the area.

"That's probably going to create a problem for us," he said.

O'Rourke replied that they could work with the government to make sure only Deh Cho people are permitted to use the lands.

In its phase three drilling program, Canadian Zinc Corporation is seeking to drill at a maximum of 60 sites within 10 km of its Prairie Creek site. They company is planning to hire 20 people to help bore two-inch holes up to 100 metres deep in search of more lead, zinc, copper and silver deposits. The work would be done by drill rigs using existing roads and new "spur roads" up to 100 metres in length. Other areas would be accessed by helicopter.

According to O'Rourke, the activity would be consistent with existing land management agreements between the Dehcho First Nations and the federal government. Nevertheless, the Dehcho First Nations has filed a lawsuit against the mine in an effort to overturn a water licence.

Canadian Zinc recognizes that Deh Cho communities have a special attachment to these lands, O'Rourke said.

"We understand that we're working in a very sensitive area of the North," he said, adding that the company also has a responsibility to its thousands of shareholders to move forward with this project.

Seeking the permit in time for the summer 2006 season, the company is committing, as an extra precaution, to hire a consultant to conduct a spring survey of wildlife and vegetation. That consultant will confer with the GNWT's regional biologist to make sure no sensitive habitat is unnecessarily disturbed. There are species such as bull trout, caribou, wolves and grizzlies in the area.

Significant impacts

Regulatory officials from the federal and territorial government told the board that the drilling project should not have significant impacts on the environment if the proponent lives up to all its commitments.

Jennifer Morin, senior conservation co-ordinator for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, reminded the board that the environmental assessment was ordered due to a concern over cumulative effects - all the activity associated with the mine. "We're looking at these small, little pieces, not the overall effect," she advised. "It all adds up."

Raymond Michaud, mayor of Fort Simpson, argued that an environmental assessment for something so minor as a drilling program is a needless delay. What's going to happen when "real serious business" like mine operations begin, he asked rhetorically.

O'Rourke noted that Canadian Zinc put an emphasis on hiring local people.

"We're going to give as big an economic bang to the communities as we can," he said.

The public record on this environmental assessment closes on Oct. 20. The Environmental Impact Review Board will make a decision and forward it to the responsible federal ministers "as soon as we can," said Gabrielle Mackenzie-Scott, chair of the board.