The welfare of narwhal and other marine life once again arose as a major concern during the resumption of regulatory hearings for the proposed Mary River iron mine phase two expansion in Iqaluit last week.
Narwhal numbers in Eclipse Sound, near Pond Inlet, fell to an estimated 5,018 in 2020, down from 9,931 in 2019, according to consultants who studied the mammals. That compares to 12,039 of the animals in 2016 and 10,489 in 2013. Narwhal are a key source of sustenance for many Pond Inlet residents.
SA国际影视传媒淚f thatSA国际影视传媒檚 not an early-warning indicator that something might be wrong, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what is,SA国际影视传媒� said Chris Debicki, vice-president of policy development with Oceans North, a registered intervenor and a charitable organization that promotes science- and community-based conservation in CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Arctic and Atlantic regions.
He said Baffinland Iron Mines officials spoke of a virtual SA国际影视传媒渂ig red buttonSA国际影视传媒� that communities could push to interrupt mine operations if an emergency arises.
SA国际影视传媒淚 think people are scratching their heads when they hear about this big red button and wondering where it is and when they can push it,SA国际影视传媒� Debicki said, referring to the plight of narwhal in the area.
If the company were truly concerned about the environment, it wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be proposing two railroads and two ports SA国际影视传媒� one at Milne Inlet and one at Steensby Inlet SA国际影视传媒� over the long-term, he added.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a way to do this responsibly and market this as some of the most environmentally-responsible iron ore in the world. Unfortunately, Baffinland hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 chosen to take that path as of yet,SA国际影视传媒� said Debicki.
Baffinland has committed to shortening the shipping season from its original phase two proposal, putting restrictions on vessels during the annual freeze up and break up of ice to lessen the impact of underwater noise on marine mammals and modifying the design of railway embankments to accommodate caribou crossings. The mining company is now proposing to do its shipping between July 15 to Oct. 31, or as late as Nov. 15, if ice conditions permit and the community of Pond Inlet is agreeable. The number of ore carriers will be limited to 168 per year, with a gradual increase to that number over four years.
Baffinland conducts its own narwhal monitoring program and the company identified other possible factors for the recent reduction in the whales present in Eclipse Sound: underwater pile driving to construct a small-craft harbour; an increase of killer whales in the area, which are predatory to narwhal; and heavier than usual ice conditions and related ice breaking.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 important to note that we made the decision to avoid icebreaking for the spring 2021 season as a direct response to Inuit input, and to minimize overlapping our activities with the construction of the craft harbour in Pond Inlet,SA国际影视传媒� said Megan Lord-Hoyle, BaffinlandSA国际影视传媒檚 vice-president of sustainable development, adding that the number of narwhal in 2019 was stable compared to the Department of Fisheries and OceanSA国际影视传媒檚 surveys in 2013, despite four years of commercial shipping taking place.
SA国际影视传媒淏affinland recognizes that itSA国际影视传媒檚 absolutely essential that our activities have as little impact as possible, and we are committed to working closely with Inuit towards this goal. Since the beginning of the project, the company has implemented extensive monitoring and mitigation measures to ensure there is no significant impacts to the marine environment from its activities and these measures will continue as part of phase two, if it is approved,SA国际影视传媒� Lord-Hoyle stated.
Debicki emphasized that Oceans North is not aiming to see the resource at Mary River go unexploited.
SA国际影视传媒淲e are extremely cognizant of the importance of this mineral deposit and are not opposed in any way to its development. Inuit chose that deposit as part of some of the core Inuit-owned land in the negotiation of Nunavut, and for good reason,SA国际影视传媒� he said, noting that the iron is such high grade that it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 require secondary processing and therefore will leave a smaller carbon footprint, if properly developed. SA国际影视传媒淚t is clearly the most important mineral resource that we know of in Nunavut. The thing is, itSA国际影视传媒檚 not a 10-year resource or a 20-year resource, this is a resource that, properly developed, will provide benefits for hundreds of years. So if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 some growing pains now and some problems with this particular operator, I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 better to resolve them early on.SA国际影视传媒�
He also described it as SA国际影视传媒渞eally problematicSA国际影视传媒� for Baffinland to promise childcare facilities in some of the communities affected by the mine, but only if phase two is approved.
SA国际影视传媒淔irst of all, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 within a mineSA国际影视传媒檚 core competency to be providing those kind of things,SA国际影视传媒� he said, adding that offering childcare is much more complex than simply constructing a building. SA国际影视传媒淪o thatSA国际影视传媒檚 the kind of thing that just shouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be part of an environmental impact process, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 confusing to community members.SA国际影视传媒�
Among the other mining-related benefits that Baffinland is touting are $1.4 billion in royalties paid to Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated and $1 billion in royalties going to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association over the life of the mine; $1.5 billion submitted in taxes and fees to the Government of Canada and $679 million in taxes to the Government of Nunavut. The company also has planned construction of a mechanical training garage in Sanirajak; three training complexes in North Baffin communities; and a $10-million training centre in Pond Inlet.
The hearings were scheduled to wrap up on Nov. 6. When the regulatory process is complete, the Nunavut Impact Review Board will forward its recommendation on phase two to the federal minister of Northern Affairs for review.
