After months of intensive negotiations, the Innu Nation is pleased to
announce that it has initialled the draft Memorandum of Understanding on
the conduct of the Voisey's Bay environmental assessment. The draft MOU is
now being made available for public comment, and panel appointments will
soon be announced by the parties.
Although the Innu Nation was not able to achieve all of its objectives in
the negotiations, the draft MOU represents an acceptable compromise,
particularly with respect to aboriginal rights.
The 'official' news release from the Canadian Environmental Assessment
Agency is attached. The draft MOU is available on the internet at:
http://www.ceaa.gc.ca/english/con_docs/voisey/voisey/voisymou.html
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC COMMENT INVITED ON THE DRAFT AGREEMENT FOR
JOINT PUBLIC REVIEW OF PROPOSED VOISEY'S BAY PROJECT
OTTAWA - November 22, 1996 - Following an announcement made earlier today in
Goose Bay, Labrador, the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is seeking
public comment on a draft Agreement to conduct a joint environmental
assessment panel review of the proposed mine and mill development near
Voisey's Bay, Labrador. The Agency will receive written comments on the
draft Agreement until December 23, 1996.
The parties to this Agreement, the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador,
Canada, and the Labrador Inuit Association and the Innu Nation, propose to
enter into this Agreement to ensure that the environmental effects of the
proposed development are assessed by jointly establishing a single,
effective and efficient public review process.
Environment Minister Sergio Marchi and Indian Affairs and Northern
Development Minister Ron Irwin are pleased that all parties were able to
reach agreement after five months of extensive negotiations.
The full text of the proposed Agreement will be available on the Agency's
Internet site: http://www.ceaa.gc.ca under the heading, Canadian
Environmental Assessment Agency. Comments on the Agreement should be
addressed to Mr. Brian Torrie at the Agency's Head Office (address below).
The proponent of this project, Voisey's Bay Nickel Company Limited, a
subsidiary of Inco Limited, is proposing to develop a nickel-copper-cobalt
mine and mill at Voisey's Bay, Labrador. The mineral resource has been
estimated at approximately 150 million tonnes. The project would be located
in northern Labrador, 35 km southwest of Nain and 79 km northwest of
Utshimasits (Davis Inlet).
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For a copy of the draft Agreement or for information on the project and the
review process, please contact:
Mr. Brian Torrie Mr. Bill Coulter
Manager, Public Review Director, Atlantic Region
Canadian Environmental Suite 1030, TD Centre
Assessment Agency 1791 Barrington Street
200 Sacr?-Coeur Halifax, Nova Scotia
Blvd. Hull, Qu?bec Tel. 902-426-0564
K1A 0H3 Fax: 902-426-6550
Tel: (819) 997-6364 Internet e-mail:
coulterw@fox.nstn.ca
Fax:(819) 994-1469
Internet e-mail: torrie@fox.nstn.ca
Larry Innes Visit the Innu Nation WWW site:
Environmental Advisor http://www.web.net/~innu
Innu Nation
P.O. Box 119, Sheshatshiu, Labrador, Canada A0P 1M0
phone: (709) 497-8398 email: innuenv@web.net fax: (709) 497-8396
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