News from 2006/2007

December, 2007: EMAB contracted North/South Consultants, Inc to review Diavik's 2006 Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program data compilation report. We asked North-South Consultants to look over the data from 2005 and 2006 and let us know if they saw any changes to take note of or if there were any issues EMAB might want to consider.

The reviewers stated: "The reviewed report provides no interpretation, discussion or conclusions, but rather it presents only data (i.e., a data report). Furthermore, not all data are provided to facilitate a full analysis. It was not possible, therefore, for the reviewers to draw meaningful conclusions based on this report alone. That will only be possible when a complete monitoring report, including analysis, interpretation, discussion and conclusions is provided. To draw conclusions now would have required considerable speculation on the part of the reviewers."

Read the review.

Winter, 2007-2008: EMAB's strategic planning committee is developing a five-year strategic plan to be approved by the Board as a whole by March 31, 2008.

June 26-28 , 2007: EMAB held an Aboriginal Involvement in Environmental Monitoring Workshop in Behchoko. Participants, representing EMAB's five Aboriginal groups and governments, held extensive discussions and developed many recommendations. The report will be available after final Board approval.

May, 2007: EMAB hired MSES to review Diavik's Wildlife Effects Monitoring Program Annual Report. MSES generally praised Diavik's work, while continuing to point out areas for improvement. Read it.

May 15,2007: The Wek’èezhìi Land and Water Board (WLWB) circulated Diavik's revised Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program. Comments on this version are due June 1, 2007.

March 16, 2007: EMAB submitted its comments on the draft Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program to the WLWB. Read the EMAB's letter and the North/South review.

February 16, 2007: The Wek’èezhìi Land and Water Board circulated Diavik’s new draft Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program (AEMP) for review. EMAB has hired North/South Consultants Inc. to review the program and report back to us by early March. The draft document is available in three parts at about 80, 75, and 20 megabytes respectively: 1, 2, and 3.

January 22, 2007:The Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board has released the Terms of Reference for the new Diavik Aquatic Effects Monitoring Program. In its cover letter, the WLWB encourages Diavik to continue to engage in a "parallel process" to ensure that commitments regarding Traditional Knowledge, community involvement and other aspects regarding the Environmental Agreement are met... To read the ToR click here.

December 4, 2006: The Wek'eezhii Land and Water Board has rendered its decision regarding the Diavik Water Licence Renewal Application. To read the decision, click here.

November 7-10, 2006: EMAB attended and participated as an intervenor at the public hearing for Diavik's water licence renewal in Behchoko.

November 1, 2006: EMAB submitted their intervention in PowerPoint form.

October 20, 2006: EMAB submitted their written intervention for the Diavik water licence renewal. All submitted written interventions can be found here. (As this file is quite large, right click on the link and select "Save target as".)

September 21-22, 2006: EMAB held its Board meeting.

September 20, 2006: EMAB held its Annual General Meeting and released the 2005-2006 Annual Report. The Board held elections for positions on the Executive: Doug Crossley remains Chair; Florence Catholique remains Vice Chair; and Sheryl Grieve was elected Secretary Treasurer.