Dominion Diamond Corporation has announced that the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) has completed its environmental impact assessment of the Jay Pipe, the proposed expansion of Ekati diamond mine and has recommended its approval to the government.

A letter sent to the Minister of Lands, the Honourable Robert C. McLeod along with the report said “approval of the Jay Project be made subject to implementation of the measures described in this Report, which are necessary to prevent significant adverse impacts on the environment and mitigate the causes of public concern”.

It adds that the recommendation is contingent on the developer implementing its commitments to mitigate impacts to the environment, including people, as described in the Report.

Some of the measures outlined by the Board are:

• That the project be designed and operated in a manner that reduces impacts to caribou, particularly from roads and dust
• Manage surface waters so the area is useful for Aboriginal traditional uses after the Jay Project closes
• Better manage social impacts, with more community engagement.
• Offset remaining impacts to caribou from the Jay Project on other areas of the Ekati Mine site
• Fund an Elders group to advise on constructing, operating and monitoring the Jay road
• Ensure clean surface waters on the Jay and Misery pits after closure
• Create an independent dike review panel to help design and operate the dike safely
• Prevent impacts to the Narrows
• Improve the strategy to employ women
• Use Traditional Knowledge appropriately to design and operate the Jay Project
• Create a cultural camp
• Follow up monitoring and reporting on implementing these measures and their effectiveness

Brendan Bell, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Dominion thanks the MVEIRB for their work on the project and looks forward to a timely decision by the Minister. We would also like to thank all the communities for their active interest and participation throughout the environmental assessment process.”

Dominion Diamond Corporation has announced that the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (MVEIRB) has completed its environmental impact assessment of the Jay Pipe, the proposed expansion of Ekati diamond mine and has recommended its approval to the government.

A letter sent to the Minister of Lands, the Honourable Robert C. McLeod along with the report said “approval of the Jay Project be made subject to implementation of the measures described in this Report, which are necessary to prevent significant adverse impacts on the environment and mitigate the causes of public concern”.

It adds that the recommendation is contingent on the developer implementing its commitments to mitigate impacts to the environment, including people, as described in the Report.

Some of the measures outlined by the Board are:

• That the project be designed and operated in a manner that reduces impacts to caribou, particularly from roads and dust
• Manage surface waters so the area is useful for Aboriginal traditional uses after the Jay Project closes
• Better manage social impacts, with more community engagement.
• Offset remaining impacts to caribou from the Jay Project on other areas of the Ekati Mine site
• Fund an Elders group to advise on constructing, operating and monitoring the Jay road
• Ensure clean surface waters on the Jay and Misery pits after closure
• Create an independent dike review panel to help design and operate the dike safely
• Prevent impacts to the Narrows
• Improve the strategy to employ women
• Use Traditional Knowledge appropriately to design and operate the Jay Project
• Create a cultural camp
• Follow up monitoring and reporting on implementing these measures and their effectiveness

Brendan Bell, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Dominion thanks the MVEIRB for their work on the project and looks forward to a timely decision by the Minister. We would also like to thank all the communities for their active interest and participation throughout the environmental assessment process.”