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Greater Nahanni Ecosystem IssueThe Nahanni saga continues. As with many stories, there is some good news and some bad news to pass along. In early October, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Heritage announced a major new action plan for national parks in Canada. Included in this plan was a commitment to expand Nahanni National Park Reserve. This provides a huge opportunity for us to work to expand the park so that it truly protects for all time the magnificent Nahanni wilderness. However, this grand plan has still not been funded. And in the meantime, development pressures continue to threaten the Nahanni. Mining represents the most serious threat to the ecological integrity of Nahanni. The Prairie Creek Mine site, in a steep-walled valley just upstream from the park boundary, is of particular concern. This mine was developed and came close to operating in 1982. However, at the last minute, the company went bankrupt and the mine sat inactive for the next 20 years. Now, a company called Canadian Zinc has bought the site and is pushing to open the mine. There are many concerns about this mine. On site, leftover from the initial development phase are PCBs, cyanide and diesel fuel – all stored close to the edge of Prairie Creek. The integrity of the tailings pond is questionable. The valleys in the region are prone to flash flooding and are in one of the most active earthquake zones in North America. The steep walls of the creek valley are slumping. The company would need to build a road into the heart of one of Canada's most magnificent wilderness areas to make the mine economically feasible. That road would have to cross an area that Parks Canada has long identified as important to include within an expanded national park. The Prairie Creek mine is clearly an unacceptable risk next door to a World Heritage Site, and must not proceed! We have recently seen inspection reports from the Prairie Creek mine that indicate that the water of Prairie Creek is already being contaminated with metals from the initial work on the site. Unfortunately, the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board, which monitors such developments, is not exercising its ability under the governing act to measure the cumulative effects of the fuel burm, waste rock pile, fuel tank farm and waste water. The cumulative effects of these risk factors are obviously high and raise the risk measurement exponentially. Taking it to the Next Level – Call to Action We know that your letters have been crucial in bringing the Nahanni campaign to the point where the Prime Minister is supporting a major expansion of the park. Now we require another wave of correspondence to ensure that the new proposed boundaries protect the entire ecosystem. We also need to continue to oppose industrial development that threatens the ecological integrity of the Nahanni. Feel free to cut and paste from the letter and addresses on the site. Be sure to include a "thank you" to Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Heritage Minister Sheila Copps for supporting the Nahanni National Park Expansion. In addition, please take a few moments to send the enclosed postcard (sent to Canadian addresses on our list) to the Prime Minister (no postage necessary). It would be useful to add a little personal note thanking him for his recent commitment to the Nahanni. Request of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board that they seriously consider the cumulative effects of impacts now and with future projects. Every letter helps – please do not underestimate the power you have! – Alison Woodley, Neil Hartling Contact information for Nahanni Letters The Hon. Robert Nault,
P.C., M.P.
Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development
Room 407, West Block
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
Fax: (613) 996-1759
E-mail: Nault.R@parl.gc.ca The Hon. Sheila Copps,
P.C., M.P.
Minister of Canadian Heritage
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
Fax: (819) 994-5987
E-mail: Copps.S@parl.gc.ca
Copies of letters to: The Right Honourable Jean Chrétien
Prime Minister of Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0A6
Fax: (613) 941-6900
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca Bob Wooley
Executive Director
Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board
Box 2130
7th Floor - 4910 50th Avenue
Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2P6
Telephone: (867) 669-0506
Fax: 1-867-873-6610
E-mail: mvlwbpermit@mvlwb.com Vern Christensen
Executive Director
Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board
Box 938
200 Scotia Centre,
(5102-50th Avenue)
Yellowknife, NT, X1A 2N7
Telephone: (867) 766-7050
Fax: 1-867-766-7074
E-mail: Board@mveirb.nt.ca
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