Photo by: Reuters
TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Two companies involved with exploration in Nunavut on Wednesday entered into a diversion agreement with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada following an Environment Canada investigation into alleged violations under the Fisheries Act.
Newmont subsidiary Hope Bay Mining and drilling services provider Orbit Garant Drilling had agreed to each pay $75 000 for a total voluntary payment of $150 000 to the Environmental Damages Fund (EDF), which would help to fund projects in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut.
The EDF is administered by Environment Canada and was created in 1995 to provide a mechanism for directing funds received as a result of fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that would benefit the Canadian environment.
Under the diversion agreement, which is not a plea bargain but rather a means of avoiding a judgment of criminal guilt, the offending companies would also hold a public meeting on Wednesday, in Iqaluktuuttiaq (Cambridge Bay) to discuss the incident with local community members.
A newspaper notice, drafted by the companies and approved by Environment Canada, would also appear in three northern newspapers informing the public of the incident.
On July 14, 2011, Environment Canada enforcement officers inspected an Orbit Garant drill rig located on the Hope Bay Mining Boston Camp property, near Iqaluktuuttiaq. The rig was in close proximity to a river that connects Stickleback lake to Spyder lake, and the inspection revealed the ongoing release of drill cuttings, drill mud and brine.
Sample analysis and an expert report concluded that the material could be harmful to fish; however, there was no evidence of any permanent harm done to any fish.
Charges were brought by Environment Canada in February, 2013.