Problems with the Environmental Working Groups for the Mary River
Problems with the environmental working groups for the Mary River mine Report to the Hamlet of Clyde River and Nangmautaq Hunters and Trappers Association January 5, 2021 Dr. Warren Bernauer (Department of Environment and Geography, University of Manitoba) Dr. Glen Hostetler (Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba) Rowan Harris (BSc, University of British Columbia) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baffinland’s Mary River mine uses a flexible approach to mitigating environmental effects. The mitigation measures are not set in stone in the NIRB project certificate. Instead, Baffinland is required to regularly update its management plans, based on advice from working groups. The members of these working groups include Baffinland, government authorities, Inuit organizations, and the Miitimatalik HTO. In some cases, non-government organizations participate as observers. For example, the Marine Environment Working Group (MEWG) includes Baffinland, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Parks Canada, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, and the Mittimatalik HTO. World Wildlife Fund and Oceans North are observers to the MEWG. The Terrestrial Environment Working Group (TEWG) includes the Government of Nunavut, QIA, and Mittimatalik HTO. When these groups were proposed, they were presented as a way to minimize the negative effects of the Mary River mine. Communities were told they could use the working groups to impose stricter mitigation measures if the mine ended up having more serious environmental impacts than expected. In other words, these working groups were supposed to provide the opportunity for adaptive management. Adaptive management is useful in situations where there is uncertainty about a project’s environmental impacts and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. It requires careful monitoring so participants can learn about the environmental impacts that are actually happening and if environmental management plans are successful in avoiding significant effects.
[Show full text]