Review board backs Baffinland’s proposal for higher shipping limit
Company’s proposal runs until end of 2024; final decision lies with northern affairs minister
The Nunavut Impact Review Board has recommended Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation’s proposal to increase its shipping of iron ore through Milne Inlet from 4.2 million tonnes to six million tonnes be approved. The proposed increase would go until the end of 2024. (File photo)
Updated on Friday, Sept. 15 at 7:51 a.m.
The Nunavut Impact Review Board has recommended approval of Baffinland Iron Mines Corp.’s request to continue shipping six million tonnes of iron ore through Milne Inlet until the end of 2024.
The final decision on whether to grant approval now lies with federal Northern Affairs Minister Dan Vandal. NIRB assesses the environmental and social impact of development projects in Nunavut and makes recommendations to the northern affairs minister about whether they should proceed or not.
Vandal’s communications director, Kyle Allen, told Nunatsiaq News on Thursday that Vandal has received the impact review board’s report and he and other federal cabinet ministers will review it.
Allen couldn’t provide a timeframe, but said a decision would be made after “appropriate due diligence and comprehensive analysis.”
Baffinland’s licence currently allows it to ship 4.2 million tonnes of ore annually from the Mary River Mine in northern Baffin. However, since 2018, the company has been operating under temporary permits that allow it to ship six million tonnes per year.
In addition to the request for the six-million-tonne limit, Baffinland’s proposal also calls for it to be able to ship up to 900,000 tonnes of stranded ore, which is ore that was delivered to Milne Inlet port in the previous year but not shipped out due to either poor weather or shipping restraints.
If granted, this would give Baffinland the ability to potentially ship up to 6.9 million tonnes of ore in 2023, as well as 2024.
In its application for the higher shipping limit, Baffinland stated that if the proposal is approved it would help the company sustain its operations.
“We are pleased to learn that the Nunavut Impact Review Board has returned a positive recommendation to the federal Minister of Northern Affairs for our [proposal],” Baffinland’s head of communications Peter Akman said in an email.
He said the board’s recommendation recognizes Baffinland’s efforts to mitigate potential impacts on environment and marine conditions in north Baffin.
In its recommendation, the board stated that as long as Baffinland fulfils its project certificate requirements and commits to improving mitigation and monitoring of potential environmental effects from the mine, “the potential for significant negative environmental and socio-economic effects associated with the Proposal can be effectively managed.”
The board’s assessment was carried out through a written technical review and two in-person community roundtable sessions. One was in Iqaluit from July 27 to July 29, the other was in Pond Inlet from Aug. 1 to Aug. 2.
The board noted that during that assessment there was support from several hamlets, businesses and employees in the region citing the employment and economic benefits that would come with the higher shipping limit.
However, the board also pointed out that support for Baffinland’s proposal was not unanimous.
In Pond Inlet, some residents said their use of freshwater and land near the mine, Tote Road and Milne Port had changed because of the spread of dust from the mining project.
Some Pond Inlet residents also said there are constraints limiting the flow of economic benefits directly to the community.
Correction: This story has been updated to correct the amount of stranded ore Baffinland Iron Mines Corp. wants approval to ship.
How did they approve when most of the head worker’s quit or got released at NERB?
of course they do.
as AC/DC says, Money Talks
About 10 years ago the Nunavut Water Board rejected an application. The GN got rid of all the members of the Nunavut Water Board and appointed new ones.
“You are independent, as long as you do what we want.”
Correct me if I am wrong, but the Nunavut Water Board is an Institution of Public Government (IPG) which is co-managed by the GN, NTI, and the Federal Government. In other words its Board is comprised of members from each. If so, it is impossible for the GN to sack the entire board, though I suppose it could sack its own representatives, which would not make a majority of the board.
Do you have some sources to back this claim up?
Article 13 of the Nunavut Agreement says that isn’t how that works.
Dear Yes, Board members are appointed by their respective representative organizations: GN, Canada and NTI. As a result the GN does not have the authority to remove a board member appointed by another organization and can therefore NOT fire the entire board as you assert