Controversial mineral exploration project gets nod in Nunavut’s Kivalliq region

The Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board says caribou are susceptible to any disturbance both during the calving season and afterwards. (FILE PHOTO)

This map shows where Anconia Resources Corp. wants to conduct a mineral exploration activities that the Arviat HTO and the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board say will negatively impact on caribou. (IMAGE COURTESY OF ANCONIA)

The Nunavut Impact Review Board has given a positive screening decision to a mining exploration project in Nunavut’s Kivalliq region despite strong criticism from the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board and the Arviat hunters and trappers organization.

The two groups both recommended that the NIRB refuse to approve Toronto-based Anconia Resources Corp.’s exploration application.

“There is clear potential for Anconia’s proposed exploration activities to result in significant impacts to Qamanirjuaq caribou through disturbance and cumulative effects,” the caribou management board said in its comments to the NIRB.

Anconia wants to explore its Marce property at Victory Lake, 180 kilometres west of Rankin Inlet, for copper, lead, zinc, silver, and gold from April to October 2012.

After “a thorough assessment of all material provided to the board,” the NIRB said Arconia’s application could proceed without a review although the company would have to meet about 50 terms and conditions.

In 2012, Anconia plans prospecting, staking and sampling activities, geophysical mapping and surveying, diamond drilling, construction of a temporary seasonal camp and moving workers, drill equipment, and supplies in and out on helicopters and airplanes.

The conditions that the NIRB put on Anconia in its March 5 screening decision, forwarded to David Ningeongan, president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association, include:

• suspension of all operations, including low-level over flights, blasting, and use of snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles outside the immediate vicinity of camps from May 15 to July 15, when caribou are observed within 1 km of project operations, and after July 15, if caribou cows or calves are observed within 1 km of project operations;

• ensuring that there is no damage to wildlife habitat during their activities; and,

• not harassing wildlife: “this includes persistently worrying or chasing animals, or disturbing large groups of animals.”

But that’s much less that the Arviat HTO asked for.

The HTO said it fears Anconia project will disturb the Qamanirjuaq caribou herd’s calving grounds and migratory route. The HTO said it couldn’t recommend any exploration activities on the caribou calving and post-calving areas.

The Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board said if approved by NIRB, the project shouldn’t go ahead without “a full and transparent public discussion.”

But the caribou management board recommended that the NIRB refuse Arconia’s request.

“The project is clearly not desirable due to potential effects on caribou, and it is not feasible due to the location and timing of the work proposed in relation to caribou. Therefore the NIRB must recommend to the KIA that the permit request be denied,” the caribou board said in its comments to the NIRB.

The board said caribou may use Anconia’s project area at any time during the proposed exploration period outside the May 15 to July 15 period.

“Therefore, it appears unlikely that the proponent will be able to conduct activities for any significant portion of the planned field season without disturbance to caribou,” the board said.

And it said Anconia failed to provide an assessment of the potential effects of their project on wildlife, to propose mitigation measures, or to identify the residual effects of its exploration activities on caribou.

The caribou board said it also worries that if Anconia’s exploration is successful, and the company finds evidence of metals, the more advanced exploration to follow will bring greater levels of activity and disturbance to the Victory Lake, “again during the time period when the caribou are most vulnerable and most sensitive to disturbance.“

The board said noise from drills, helicopters and other aircraft, snowmobiles, camp activities, and people working on the ground could potentially result in changes to behaviour of caribou groups, such as running away from aircraft or vehicles. These activities could also increase stress levels in the animals.

The board said it remains concerned about both the cumulative effects of mineral exploration activity occurring across the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou ranges and the lack of cumulative effects assessment and land use planning underway throughout the Kivalliq region.

“The amount of mineral exploration activity in the area west and northwest of Arviat has been increasing, and we are concerned about the associated increasing potential for significant cumulative effects of these activities on Qamanirjuaq caribou and their habitat,” its comments to the NIRB stated.

Some kinds of development, such as mining exploration activities, which disturb caribou, are just not compatible with caribou, said Mitch Campbell, a wildlife biologist with the Government of Nunavut, who also sits on the caribou management board, which includes representatives from the governments of Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Saskatchewan as well the Inuit, Dene, Métis and Cree peoples who depend on the herd to feed their families.

“If we push too far, we will lose that resource,” he told Nunatsiaq News in 2009.