Effects of mineral exploration not monitored

Thanks to Nunatsiaq News for investigating the development of a pro-uranium mining policy for Nunavut (“NTI endorses uranium mining on Inuit-owned land,” May 5, 2006), the lack of consultation on this issue with Nunavummiut and others that could be affected by opening up Nunavut to uranium mining (“Caribou left out of uranium talks,” May 5, 2006), and the need to protect barren-ground caribou herds from the impacts of increasing levels of mineral exploration — including exploration for uranium — across their ranges (“Caribou at risk with all mining activity, biologist warns,” May 5, 2006).

I would like to elaborate on one comment in that last article, in which I said that exploration is a special area of concern because it “isn’t regulated that much, if at all.”

My comment relates to three key areas regarding the potential impacts of exploration on caribou:

• Prospecting permits are issued in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut with no public consultation or environmental assessment, providing mining exploration and potential development with precedence above any other use of the land.

• The Caribou Protection Measures, which were developed in the late 1970s to protect Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou, have not been updated to reflect current range use patterns or evaluated to determine if they are providing any real protection for the caribou herds.

• The cumulative effects of increasing human activities, including mineral exploration, are not being monitored or regulated across the caribou ranges.

I recognize that there is some regulation of individual exploration projects, including the terms and conditions placed on land use permits for exploration.

However, regulation and management of human activities — including mineral exploration — must be improved across the caribou ranges to provide necessary protection for barren-ground caribou herds and their habitats.

This is critical to ensure that caribou will continue to be available to feed the families of Inuit, Dene, Métis, Cree, and non-aboriginal people who live in 20 communities on or near the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq caribou ranges.

Leslie Wakelyn, Biologist
Beverly and Qamanirjuaq Caribou Management Board