http://reviewboard.ca/upload/news/12...

This link is a newsletter of the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board (May 2009). A few items of interest. First, Tyhee's Yellowknife Gold Project features prominently, as the second bullet. There are a couple of other mines, but this is the only gold mine in development. In other projects on the second page, some indication of how long is required for the EA process is shown.

Also noteable is the Taltson Hydroelectric Expansion Project, including a plan for 690 KM electrical transmission line to take electrical power to the diamond mines. This is interesting when you consider that DW has pointed out the cost savings possible if Tyhee were to get electrical power from the dam near the Big Sky claim, rather than to truck in the fuel. It would be a nice surprise to learn of progress on this issue.

THe third, and in my view most noteable point is that the MVEIRB has changed it's focus (one paragraph below the photo of Jessica Simpson, last page) in that:

"In the past, environmental impact assessmen focussed on the impacts that development could cause to the biophysical environment. Now, impacts on society, culture, and economic activity have also gained importance."

It goes on to say "one of the Review Board's guiding principles is to protect the social, cultural and economic well-being of residents and communiites in the Mackenzie Valley."

I think that this recognition of the importance of business and employment on the well being of people in the region is a positive for Tyhee, not only in the context of recent scaling back of employment in the diamond mines and other exploration projects (now a revenue concern / tax base issue as well as public concern about employment), but also that employment and other socio-econmic impact assessment must be included in the EA process itself.

OH yes, there will be a mine.

SKELEG