Water board will hold hearings in Arctic Bay

This letter is in response to the letter to the editor written by Joanasie Akumalik regarding the closure of the Nanisivik Mine.

As part of its process for the approval of the mine’s proposed decommissioning under its current water license, the Nunavut Water Board intends to hold pre-hearing meetings and hearings in Arctic Bay.

The exact dates will be confirmed after Breakwater Resources, the owner of the Nanisivik Mine, submits to the board for approval its final abandonment and restoration plan.

At this time, our distribution list for all correspondence regarding the mine closure includes among several federal, territorial, and local organizations: the Hamlet of Arctic Bay, the Arctic Bay Hunters and Trappers Organization, both the QIA Head Office and its Arctic Bay representative, and the Nunavut MLA representing Arctic Bay.

As soon as the board sets a date for a pre-hearing in consultation with all interested parties, flyers will be posted in public locations in Arctic Bay notifying the public of the upcoming meeting.

The purpose of the pre-hearing is to inform the public about the scope of the proposed closure plan, to define the process to be followed for the approval of the proposed plan, to discuss any other procedural issues in preparation for the hearing and to hear comments or concerns from the public.

Because the mine’s infrastructures are located on both Crown lands and Commissioner’s lands, the approval of the decommissioning of the mine will also involve the government of Nunavut and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.

Meanwhile, residents of Arctic Bay and other interested parties are invited to contact the NWB office in Gjoa Haven should they require additional information or wish to be added to our official mailing list.

Telephone: 867-360-6338; Fax: 867-360-6369;
E-mail: rbecker@polarnet.ca.
Philippe di Pizzo,
Executive Director
Nunavut Water Board
pdipizzo@polarnet.ca