Thursday, 03 June 2010 07:20
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| Federal scientists present details of their seismic testing project to the Qikiqtani Inuit Association in Iqaluit on Tuesday. (CBC) |
As Natural Resources Canada consults the affected Nunavut communities about the testing proposal, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association is leading the charge against it.
"We don't understand what seismic testing means," Okalik Eegeesiak, president of the Baffin Island-area Inuit organization, told CBC News.
The project, which federal scientists hope to start this summer, would be an attempt to map out underwater geographical features. Beginning in August, a research vessel would send sound waves though several Arctic waterways, including Lancaster Sound.
The scientists began consultations in northern Baffin Island communities this week.
Eegeesiak and other association officials got a look at the proposal in Iqaluit on Tuesday at a presentation from the federal Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office.
Not drilling for oil: scientist
"It comes across as, 'The communities really need this,'" said Eegeesiak, who is skeptical. "The bottom line is for potential oil and gas."
But Donald James, chief geologist with the geoscience office, said the project — called Geomapping for Energy and Minerals — insisted that scientists will not be digging for oil.
"It's our intent that this data is going to help governments and communities, people and resource companies, to make better decisions with respect to land use, as well as for making better decisions with respect to exploration in searching for minerals and energy," James said.
Potential conservation area
Last year, the federal government committed more than $5 million towards studying whether Lancaster Sound should be designated a national marine conservation area. The Qikiqtani Inuit Association has been working with Parks Canada and the Nunavut government on the study.
On Tuesday, scientists stressed that modern seismic testing methods are safe and would not harm marine wildlife. They pointed to recent tests in the St. Lawrence River as an example.
But John Amagoalik, the Qikiqtani Inuit Association's director of lands and resources, remained critical.
"Seismic exploration is one of the last things we want," Amagoalik said. "This is Lancaster Sound, and a national marine conservation area project was announced by the prime minister."
Lancaster Sound is a habitat for narwhal, beluga and bowhead whales, as well as for seals, walrus and polar bears. Seabirds flock to Lancaster Sound in the hundreds of thousands.
Nunavut watches hearings
Last month, the Nunavut Impact Review Board said the seismic testing can proceed without further review.
But territorial Environment Minister Daniel Shewchuk said the government will be watching the consultations and determine whether final approval should be given.
"We don't know that it's going to happen yet for sure," Shewchuk said.
"We're going to wait until the consultations are done, see what the concerns are, see how they're mitigated, and a decision at some point in time will be made after that."
Eegeesiak said a lot of questions will likely come up at the community consultations, which are expected to run until next week. She said Natural Resources Canada doesn't know the answer to some questions.
"What is useful for the individual Inuk? she asked. "What is useful for the Inuit communities?"
Comments
The 5 million they already allocated to make it a park would include a formal Minerals and Energy Resource Assessment.(MERA. This oil blasting has nothing to do with the that.
Plus they already spent most of the 70's and 80's studying Lancaster Sound to death and in 1989 published a MERA entitled "Geology and Resource Potential of a Proposed National Marine Park, Lancaster Sound, Northwest Territories.
Ironically that MERA said "We know what is here, there is no need for further seismic testing in Lancaster Sound."
This testing smells unusual considering this is the one place in the arctic that is being considered for a park. Especially what the background of what is happening in the Gulf of Mexico.
1989 MERA: Smith, D R; Gowan, R J; McComb.
http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/gran/55405.pdf
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