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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Environment Minister Michael Miltenberger says he will consider an independent, arms-length watchdog for the Giant Mine clean-up project.

"I will discuss the issue of independent oversight," Miltenberger said Wednesday in response to questions from Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley.

Alarms were sounded this spring when an ice dam on Baker Creek caused it to flood into a tailings pond, and then a sinkhole threatened to flood the mine and underground chambers where more than 200,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide are stored.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada manages the remediation project and monitors the effort, which Bromley said is a clear conflict of interest that led to delays in releasing information.

"The federal government needs to be put on notice that it needs to make more information available," said Bromley, who questioned whether the territorial government might also be in conflict.

The territorial government is spending $27 million on the clean-up project, and Miltenberger said he "would be happy to look at alternative structures."

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