FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 28, 2013 - Behchokö, NT
The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (“the Review Board”) released the environmental assessment report for the proposed Fortune Minerals NICO mine on January 25, 2013. The Tłı̨chǫ Government is reviewing the report closely to determine next steps.
“We are now in a decision-making position alongside the Government of Canada for the first time in our history,” remarked the Grand Chief Eddie Erasmus. Unique powers are held by the Tłı̨chǫ Government when a development is to be carried out wholly or partly on Tłı̨chǫ lands. The Tłı̨chǫ Government will be considering the report and will either:
- Adopt the recommendation or refer it back to the Review Board for further consideration; or
- After consulting the Review Board, adopt the recommendation with modifications or reject it.
The NICO project is likely to cause significant adverse impacts to the environment, including water, wildlife and culture. The Review Board recommended that the project be approved only if identified measures are implemented.
As the Review Board recognized, “This mine development is entirely surrounded by Tłı̨chǫ land, and is the core cultural and historical area of the Tłı̨chǫ people.” The NICO Project access road is entirely on Tłı̨chǫ land. The Review Board recognized that this is the first major development to be proposed and subject to environmental assessment on wholly-owned Tłı̨chǫ lands since the Tłı̨chǫ Land Claim and Self Government Agreement came into force.
The Review Board weighed environmental impacts and public concern in the determination of their recommendation. As was noted in the report, “during the environmental assessment it became apparent that public concern existed as well so the Board focused on impacts of the Project on the environment as well as public concern.” The Tłı̨chǫ Government will continue to consider the nature and extent of public concern in its decision-making process under section 131.1 of the Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act (MRVMA).
Press questions can be directed to Henry Zoe with the Tłı̨chǫ Government at 867-669-0161 or 867-446-0230 or [email protected]
