Mr Ryan Barry executive director of the NIRB said that the Nunavut Impact Review Board’s project certificate workshop for the Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation Mary River iron ore project held in Iqaluit December 18th and 19th, proved to be useful, on the last day of the workshop.
Mr Barry said that “We have issued a draft project certificate. We’ve made parties aware of our intentions of finalizing that project certificate. That’s the goal that we are reaching for.”
Many of the terms and conditions as written will not require additional commentary or clarification. The workshop was the first step in developing the NIRB’s monitoring program for Mary River.
He said that “That’s not to say there won’t be a need for additional dialogue on the implementation of those terms and conditions moving forward.”
He added that the program itself and its implementation will require regular dialogue through the coming months and years as the Mary River project advances.
That means the board and NIRB staff will follow many of the other licensing and permitting processes as they unfold with many of the regulators who attended.
He said that “We’ll be looking to have dedicated staff that are working on implementation under our own responsibilities under the project certificate.”
He added that NIRB welcomes more dialogue with Baffinland and the other parties as we look at means of coordinating responsibilities and minimizing duplication.
The NIRB will try to find the most effective ways to carry out those responsibilities and to make sure that above all that the potential impacts to the environment are managed responsibly. Overall, the workshop meetings went at a quick pace.
He said that “It’s been very productive meetings, we’ve moved through things very quickly I think once we found our pace.”
Mr Pauloosie Suvega, the associate deputy minister for the Department of Economic Development and Transportation agreed that it’s a significant step forward for the Mary River project. He also said it’s good that polar bears have been included in the term marine mammals.
Mr Suvega said that “On a very positive note, the Government of Nunavut is pleased that the terms and conditions and the draft project certificate concerning marine mammals will apply equally to polar bears.”
He said that as long as the NIRB plans to list commitments in a living document available to agencies and the public in a transparent matter, all involved will know that they are being adhered to.
He added that the GN is committed to supporting Baffinland, the NIRB and other parties to maximize the long-term benefits and opportunities that this project offers and to minimize and mitigate negative environmental and social impacts.
