Review board rejects Back River
Sabina Gold and Silver Corp. didn't prove it would protect caribou - NIRB
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Monday, June 20, 2016
IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
The Back River Gold Mine project is on hold after the Nunavut Impact Review Board said June 16 that Sabina Gold and Silver Corp. had not eased concerns about the gold mine southwest of Cambridge Bay, especially regarding caribou.
The Nunavut Impact Review Board heard from Alex Power of the Yellowknives Dene Nation, left, and Alfred Crapeau-Baillargeon, 80, of Dettah in April, the latter expressing his concern about changes to the land and decline of caribou due to development. - NNSL file photo |
"On the basis of the potential for significant adverse ecosystemic and socio-economic effects in Nunavut and also in the Northwest Territories that, in the board's view, cannot be adequately managed and mitigated, the proposed Back River Gold Mine Project should not proceed at this time," review board chairperson Elizabeth Copland stated in a news release.
Sabina bought the mine 400 km southwest of Cambridge Bay in 2009, and the NIRB review started four years ago.
The mine, which Sabina hopes will produce 200,000 ounces of gold per year for about 11 years, was stopped over concerns about caribou.
"The board heard there is a high level of concern about the potential for this project to have impacts on caribou herds with ranges in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories that have recently experienced significant declines," Copland stated in the news release. "In addition, the board heard of the devastating effects that harvesting bans and other management measures are having on communities in the Northwest Territories. The board also heard that there remains considerable uncertainty regarding the extent to which efforts to monitor, manage and mitigate any additional adverse effects on caribou would be effective."
The Government of Nunavut's reaction to the decision seemed to echo NIRB's concerns.
"Through the NIRB process, all stakeholders are given an opportunity to make their views known and have them considered," communications director Cate MacLeod stated in an e-mail.
"The GN supports responsible development that provides benefits to Nunavummiut and does not negatively impact people, wildlife or the environment."
The NIRB decision was not the result Sabina was expecting, vice-president of communications Nicole Hoeller told Nunavut News/North by e-mail.
"We were surprised and disappointed by the NIRB's recommendation," she stated. "Responsible development of the Back River project, protection of the environment and wildlife and generation of meaningful employment for the people of the Kitikmeot have been and continue to be a top priority for Sabina. We believed that we had satisfied all requirements of the environmental assessment process and that any outstanding concerns would be addressed during the licensing phase."
Sabina won't be going to that phase, yet, but the decision is not final, NIRB noted. The company can come back with a satisfactory mitigation plan, or can appeal to Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Carolyn Bennett to ignore NIRB's recommendations.
"We believe the NIRB has clearly left the door open to reconsideration of the project once their uncertainties about some of our effects assessment predictions and mitigation measures have been addressed," Hoeller stated. "We believe we can do this. We are still working our way through the 347-page report and will assess which option we will take to move forward once that's done."
In a letter dated June 16, Sabina president Bruce McLeod asked Bennett to hold off on her decision until the company can review the entire document "to determine if we wish to make any submissions to you in response."
