NIRB not a protection agency

I am dismayed at your editorial comment (Nunatsiaq News, July 23, 1999) regarding a research licence in the fossil forest on Axel Heiberg and Ellesemere Islands. You have stated with great indignation:

“Unbelievably, this project appears to have escaped the scrutiny of an expensive and highly-touted regulatory system designed specifically to make sure those kind of things don’t happen. Where was the Nunavut Impact Review Board sleeping when this application was made?”

With due respect, you sir obviously do not understand the Environmental Impact Assessment Process and for your information, the Nunavut Impact Review board (NIRB) was not sleeping. It was very much awake.

First, NIRB is not a government department; it is an institute of public government, at an arms length fmm the government.

Second, our process requires that we obtain comments from various departments, agencies, HTO’s, etc. We received a recommendation. in a letter dated April 9, 1999 from the agency responsible for culture and heritage stating: “we recommend approval of the above cited projcct and research application as the proponent’s proposed activities do not constitute a threat to known archaeological resources.”1t On this basis, the board approved the application.

Third, NIRB is an environmental assessment agency, and not a policing or protection agency. It makes a determination of the environmental impact assessment of a project that is referred by an authorizing or permitting agency.

I therefore request that you publish this letter with your apology and a retraction of your unprofessional statement.

S.Y. (Joe) Ahmad, P.D., P.Eng.
Executive Director

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in our July 23 editorial were fair comments based on facts that are widely available to the public. No apology or retraction is needed.