Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my understanding of the process is it is a DIAND process. The information we have is once DIAND has decided to submit a recommendation on the management of the arsenic stored underground at Giant to the federal senior management, I understand that they're timetable is that they plan to do that in the fall of 2003. So we're in that area, probably later this month or November we would anticipate that. So we expect that the recommended management option will probably be the frozen block disposal method. We as a government can only advise, but this is what we anticipate will happen. Any final management alternative must effectively isolate the arsenic from people and the environment, so of course we are all supportive of that. My understanding is that once that happens, once DIAND has decided to take a course of action, then a project description would be submitted to the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board. The information that we have is that this is the course of action that has been taken. It would probably involve an environmental assessment and a review process would probably trigger. So that would be some time, and we know how these processes have been proceeding in all these different area. The arsenic stored underground at Giant is a huge concern to everybody, including people down the valley because that's where the river flows. So of course we are very concerned about it, and the submission that land and water board will receive, it will probably take some time to make sure that all the different stakeholders will have input into that.
Jim Antoine on Question 411-14(6): Approval For Giant Mine Remediation Project
In the Legislative Assembly on October 8th, 2003. See this statement in context.
Return To Question 411-14(6): Approval For Giant Mine Remediation Project
Question 411-14(6): Approval For Giant Mine Remediation Project
Item 6: Oral Questions
October 7th, 2003
Page 1320
Jim Antoine Nahendeh
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