NR 06-05 URA ENG Uranium Mining.doc
(May 15, 2006 – Cambridge Bay, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) 1st Vice-President and Vice-President of Finance James Eetoolook today announced that NTI and the Regional Inuit Associations (RIAs) are working on a draft uranium mining policy.
The NTI Board of Directors and Executive Officers authorized the Lands Policy Advisory Committee (LPAC) to create a comprehensive Draft Policy Concerning Uranium Mining in Nunavut, and for LPAC to present its draft policy to the NTI Board of Directors for consideration.
LPAC, which includes the Vice-Presidents of NTI and the RIAs, will oversee the development of the policy on uranium mining this year.
A draft consultation document and a draft uranium policy were developed by LPAC members and circulated for review and comment to Baker Lake and Kugluktuk community organizations, the Nunavut Impact Review Board, the Nunavut Water Board, the Nunavut Planning Commission, the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board, Government of Nunavut, Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and several exploration and mining companies. The draft documents were also made available at this year’s Nunavut Mining Symposium in Cambridge Bay.
Once LPAC has received comments from these organizations and finalized a consultation document and draft uranium policy, the documents will be presented to stakeholders in Baker Lake and Kugluktuk, where advanced exploration for uranium is taking place, and where there are known deposits of uranium that may be developed in the future. Inuit own the mineral rights to some of these deposits.
When community consultations conclude, a final draft uranium mining policy will be presented to the NTI and RIA Boards of Directors, which will make a final decision on adopting the policy.
For further information:
Kerry McCluskey
Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated
Tel: (867) 975-4914 Toll-free: 1-888-646-0006
