ALERT - Nahanni National Park Reserve
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The Mackenzie Environmental Impact and Review Board has
given approval to Canadian Zinc Corp's Prairie Creek mine to
go ahead with development of a controversial mine in Nahanni
National Park Reserve. The Board said the mine, which
was largely constructed in the 1980s but never operated, would
not 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 were not backed up by solid plans. They
also said not enough weight was given to aboriginal concerns
about water quality. The mine has been bitterly opposed
by environmentalists.
The Area:
The mine is on Prairie Creek which 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 wolves,
Dall |
Virginia Falls, Nahanni National
Park Reserve.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/24
http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/540 |
sheep, woodland caribou and grizzly bears. Established
as a National Park Resrve in 1972, Nahanni National Park Reserve
received World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1978, highlighting
the global significance of Nahanni's natural values. In 1987,
the section of the South Nahanni River that flows through the
national park was designated as a CANADIAN HERITAGE RIVER in
recognition of its outstanding wilderness character and recreational
value.
In
April 2009, Parks Canada announced Nahanni National Park Reserve as
a new wilderness area within Canada's national parks. The mine property
was completely surrounded by the Nahanni National Park Reserve when
it was expanded in 2009, however, the company kept its mineral
rights.
The problem: The mine site is at
the bottom of a V-shapped valley on a steep-gradient creek subject
to violent flash floods.
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The area is also subject to earthquakes.
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The substrate is very porous with interconnected ground water
aquifers.
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Over the long term it is almost certain that leachate from mine
tailings however they are stored, will escape
and pollute Praire Creek and the Nahanni/Liard/Mackenzie system.
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Furthermore development of the road to the mine would be detrimental
to wildlife particularly Mountain
Caribou.
The project will now go before the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water
Board for specific construction permits and before federal Northern
Affairs Ministr John Duncan and cabinet for final approval.
Construction could begin late next year with the earliest start for
production in late 2013.
Information:
Mining Watch Canada:
www.miningwatch.ca/nahanni-park-and-prairie-creek-mine-disaster-waiting-happen
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society:
http://cpaws.org/news/cpaws-concerned-about-news-on-prairie-creek-mine
Write: The minister responsible
for approving or refusing approval of the application is Hon. John
Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development.
Mailing address: Terrase de la Chaudiere, 21st floor, 10 Wellington
Street, Gatinau, Quebec.
email address: minister@nac.gc.ca
Individuals can write to UNESCO if they feel there are threats to
UNESCO sites:
UNESCO, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris O7SP, France. email
address: wh-info@unesco.org.
