Viriginia Falls in the Nahanni National Park Reserve.
CBC reports, “Vancouver-based Canadian Zinc Corp. announced Friday it has received approval by a regulatory authority (the Mackenzie Environmental Impact and Review Board) to go ahead with development of a controversial mine (the Prairie Creek mine) on the boundary of a national park reserve and world heritage site (the Nahanni National Park Reserve) in the Northwest Territories.”
“Prairie Creek flows into the Nahanni River, one of Canada’s most scenic wilderness rivers and a global destination for canoeists. The area is prime habitat for Dall sheep, woodland caribou and grizzly bears. UNESCO declared the area a world heritage site in 1978. Much of the bedrock under the land is highly permeable, which makes it vulnerable to any type of spill or contamination.”
“The board said the mine, which was largely constructed in the 1980s but never operated, wouldn’t pose any significant environmental hazard. But it was divided on the issue. Two members said the majority who ruled in favour of the mine relied too heavily on company promises that weren’t backed up by solid plans. They also said not enough weight was given to aboriginal concerns about water quality. Canadian Zinc president John Kearney said he didn’t anticipate any problems meeting the conditions recommended by the board, which involve improving water storage, tailings management and ore concentrate transport.”
“The project will now go before the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board for specific construction permits and before federal Northern Affairs Minister John Duncan and cabinet for final approval. …Construction could begin late next year with the earliest start for production in late 2013.”
