The Government of Canada has accepted the final Report of Environmental Assessment on the Giant mine remediation project, including acceptance of modifications to eight of the measures as proposed by the Review Board in its February 12, 2014, letter. This is the final step of an extensive and inclusive environmental assessment process, led by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board.  This process has involved a wide range of federal and territorial government departments, environmental organisations, Aboriginal groups and various other interested stakeholders in and around the city of Yellowknife, in the Northwest Territories.

The health and safety of the community, as well as the protection of the environment, are paramount considerations for this site. This announcement is an important step forward in the remediation process for the Giant mine site. With this decision the creation of an oversight body for the project and preparations for regulatory approvals can now proceed.

Following careful consideration of the complex project, today’s decision was issued by the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, on behalf of the Responsible Ministers for this project: the Ministers of Environment Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories.

Giant is an abandoned gold mine in the Northwest Territories  which operated from 1948 until 1999. Giant is located within the city of Yellowknife, approximately 1.5 km from the community of N’dilo and 9 km from the community of Dettah.

Copies of all relevant documents, including the original Report of Environmental Assessment on the Giant mine remediation project, the Minister’s Decision Letter and table of Final Approved Wording of Modified Measure, will be available on the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board web site at: www.reviewboard.ca. Together these documents will make up the final report and will form the basis for the regulatory process.

The eight modifications to the original Report of Environmental Assessment on the Giant mine remediation project strengthen the intent of the measures by clarifying technical issues around timelines, the creation of an oversight body and the options for Baker Creek.

Valcourt said that “through consultation with our partners, the Government of Canada is taking the final step in the environmental assessment process to advance the protection of health and safety, as well as the protection of the environment at the Giant Mine site. Our Government will continue to take action to complete this important remediation work efficiently, while meeting requirements of the regulatory process.”