Ekati mine expansion won't have significant effect on caribou: Dominion Diamond

Dominion Diamond Corporation says its proposed Jay pipe expansion at the N.W.T.'s Ekati diamond mine will not have a significant effect on the Bathurst caribou herd, but aboriginal groups questioned the definition of "significant" at a hearing Tuesday.

The company presented its case to the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in Yellowknife. It was Day 2 of a week-long set of public hearings about the proposed expansion of the mine and the potential environmental impacts that could have.

Dominion Diamond acknowledged the main concern aboriginal groups have with the project is the health of the Bathurst caribou herd. 

The company's CEO, Brendan Bell, says it has designed the Jay pipe expansion to mitigate any negative effects, including caribou crossings over the road, speed limits and road closures when animals are close by.

"We believe this project will have very little impact on caribou," Bell said.

Peter Unger, the Lutsel' K'e Dene First Nation's manager of wildlife, lands and environment, said Dominion Diamond should recognize that any negative impact on the herd is significant given its already dwindling population.

"So I am asking, is Dominion Diamond asserting that there will be no reduction in population?" asked Unger. 

Jim Rettie, with Golder Associates, a consulting firm for Dominion, said declines in the population are natural, and noted that in the past herds near active mines have actually increased in size.

"Based on our very conservative assessment of the effects on the population, our conclusion is that the Jay project will have an effect of 0.3 per cent decline in the population on an annual basis," Rettie said.

Based on a 2012 population estimate, that decline works out to a loss of 105 animals annually.

The company said it's confident that the expansion will not have significant cumulative adverse effects on the herd.

"Is it Dominion's position that the only way to prevent any reduction at all, to bring it down to zero impact, is not proceeding with the project?" asked Unger.

"From our perspective, we think we have done this in a very responsible and appropriate manner, and we believe this project should go ahead on that basis," said Richard Bargery of Dominion Diamond.

There will be another public hearing Wednesday at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre in Yellowknife, which will focus on potential impacts on water.

The hearings will move to Behchoko on Thursday and Lutsel K'e on Saturday.