Rejection of Arctic mine expansion bid offers hope for narwhal population

The expansion of an iron ore mine within the Arctic that may have elevated delivery and led to the “complete extirpation of narwhal” from the area has been blocked.

After 4 years of consultations and deliberations, the Nunavut Impact Review Board rejected a request from Baffinland Iron Mines Corp asking to considerably improve mining on the northern tip of Baffin Island in Nunavut, Canada. The space is residence to 1 of the world’s richest iron ore deposits, and the densest narwhal population on this planet.

The information got here as a shock and a aid to conservationists and neighborhood members working to guard the narwhal population and the Inuit who depend on them for subsistence.

“I actually cried,” mentioned Chris Debicki, a vice-president and counsel on the conservation organisation Oceans North. “The case against expansion at this moment was too strong and community opposition was too loud.”

The assessment board issued an announcement on Friday saying that the Mary River mine expansion challenge carried potential for “significant and lasting negative effects on marine mammals, the marine environment, fish, caribou and other terrestrial wildlife, vegetation and freshwater”.

“In the Board’s view, these negative effects could also impact Inuit harvesting, culture, land use and food security,” it mentioned.

Dan Vandal, Canada’s northern affairs minister, can now resolve whether or not to facet with the assessment board or with Baffinland. He is predicted to make his determination inside the subsequent three months.

Baffinland’s CEO, Brian Penney, mentioned in a quick on-line assertion that the corporate was “surprised and disappointed” within the assessment board’s report and proposals, and that he urged “the federal government to consider all of the evidence and input and to approve the Phase 2 application with fair and reasonable conditions”.

Baffinland is collectively owned by ArcelorMittal and the Houston personal fairness agency the Energy and Minerals Group.

Its expansion bid sought to extend delivery from the present 6m tonnes of iron ore a yr to 12m from its north Baffin Island port at Milne Inlet. It additionally needed to construct a second railway to a different port, from which it meant to ship a further 18m tonnes.

Current delivery volumes have already had a “devastating” influence on the narwhal population, mentioned Enookie Inuarak, vice-chairperson of the Mittimatalik Hunters and Trappers Organization.

Narwhals are a kind of whale recognisable by the lengthy, spear-like tusk that protrudes from its head. The animal is a crucial predator in Eclipse Sound and different Arctic waters, as nicely a significant meals supply for Inuit within the area.

Inuarak mentioned generations of hunters have relied on narwhal looking in the summertime, when 1000’s of narwhal usually come to Eclipse Sound. Because narwhal meat is wealthy in vitamin C, it helps preserve neighborhood members wholesome through the round the clock darkness of winter.

Last summer season, hunters discovered barely any narwhals.

“We rely on narwhals for diet, for health and also economically,” Inuarak mentioned, including that their rising absence from the area “means less of everything”.

Since Baffinland started mining operations at Mary River in 2015, the quantity of narwhal has precipitously declined, in keeping with Arctic marine biologist Kristin Westdal.

“If you look at the surveys [since 2014], you see this incredible, statistically significant decline in the narwhal population in this area – we see 12,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000,” Westdal mentioned.

Because narwhals use underwater echolocation to speak with one another, the noise and interference from mining transport ships is forcing them out of the realm.

Inuarak mentioned Friday’s ruling would result in celebrations in Pond Inlet, a neighborhood close to the mine, together with a small parade, however he mentioned the risk stays.

The ultimate determination on the longer term of the mine’s operations rests with the federal authorities. Many supporters needed the expansion as a result of it got here with guarantees of royalties and jobs.

But Debicki mentioned the assessment board’s rejection was vital.

“This iron ore deposit is one of the best in the world because of its high concentration,” he mentioned.

“The reality is that there’ll be mining in this region not for tens of years, but likely for hundreds of years, so it’s super important to get the development right at the outset.”

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