Dominion Receives Jay Project Approval
May 22, 16
(IDEX Online News) – Dominion Diamond Corporation announced that the minister of lands of the government of the Northwest Territories has accepted the recommendations of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board for the company’s Jay Project.
Subject to the measures described in the Report of Environmental Assessment, the final step of the environmental approval of the project will be the filing of a water license and land use permit applications.
In its decision, the government of the Northwest Territories listed a number of Aboriginal governments and organizations, who were consulted throughout the process, including the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the Deninu Kué First Nation and the Kitikmeot Inuit Association. It also said that Aboriginal and/or Treaty rights do not end with the decision to adopt the Review Board’s recommendation. There will be further opportunities to assess any potential adverse impacts as the program advances.
“This is an important milestone for Dominion and for the Northern economy,” said Dominion CEO Brendan Bell. “…Jay is the most significant undeveloped deposit at Ekati. Jay alone has the potential to extend the mine life approximately 10 to 11 years beyond the current projected closure of Ekati. The company expects to publish a feasibility study on the Jay Project later this month.”
Dominion Diamond Corporation is the world’s third largest producer of rough diamonds by value.