|
We thought we
would showcase a small letter writing campaign by Becky Mason
that swirled around various e-mail addresses this Spring —
Dear
friends:
It
is not often that we ask for help but we are very
concerned
about the future of Nahanni National
Park.
Below is some information from CPAWS
(Canadian
Parks and Wilderness Society) on some
of
the immediate threats to this World Heritage Site
and
a sample draft letter you can send to the appropriate
ministers.
Please
circulate this message to anyone you
think
may be interested, anywhere. We also encourage you to print it
out and hand it to friends that don't have email.
Thank you very much,
Becky Mason and Reid McLachlan
The
Nahanni River (NWT) is in danger from
mining
exploration and development. The most
critical
threat is the Canadian Zinc mine on Prairie
Creek.
The mining infrastructure has been there
for
20 years. This includes huge amounts of cyanide
and
diesel fuel stored in ageing containers beside the creek
which is prone to flash floods and in an unstable earthquake
zone. These pose an obvious and immediate threat to the
Nahanni River downstream.
The
mine is also gearing up to open and studies
show
that the ore present is laced with high levels of
mercury
as well as arsenic and antimony. The water
contamination
from the run-off could be disastrous
if
the mine starts production. An all-season road
is
also proposed to be built to the mine, crossing
fragile
areas of tundra, permafrost and the world
renowned
Nahanni karst formations that Parks
Canada
has proposed to protect.
Other
plans for the Nahanni River this season include oil
and gas exploration. An "AIR CANON" will be floated
up the Nahanni to the Park boundary,
doing
seismic blasts along the river floor looking for
clues
of underlying oil and gas potential.
Mining
development and oil and gas exploration
within
the South Nahanni watershed threatens
this
globally recognized World Heritage Site.
The
best way to protect this unique area is to expand the
protected area to include the entire watershed. Currently
there are land claims negotiations underway
between the Deh Cho First Nation (they feel
strongly about protecting this area) and the Federal
Government.
Expanded
protection of the Nahanni area is a real
possibility
if we help push for it.
Sending
letters will make the difference. The
Canadian
Government needs to hear from you now.
For
more information on the Nahanni National
Park
issue:
Canadian Parks and Wilderness
Society
Website:
http://www.cpaws.org
E-mail:
Alison Woodley awoodley@cpaws.org
National office: (613) 569-7226 |
Dear
friends:
This
proposed oil and gas exploration will directly
affect
the future of the Nahanni National Park. It has a looming
deadline so send emails to address
below
by this Friday a.m.
Please
circulate to anyone who you may think
would
be interested.
1
- National Energy Board has approved the "air
cannon"
project.
2
- The only way to reverse approval is to have
the
MacKenzie Valley Land and Water Board request an Environmental
Assessment.
3
- Deadline for the request for an Environmental
Assessment
is this Friday April 5, 2002. After that the "air
cannon" goes ahead this summer up the Nahanni River to
the Park's border. I've been told this seismic process would
make it almost impossible to expand the proposed park
boundaries.
4
- The only way that an Environmental Assessment
will
be done is if there is shown that there
potential
for significant public concern for the "air
cannon"
procedure.
Dear
Friends,
The
Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact
Review
Board was swamped with hundreds of your
emails
calling for an Environmental Assessment
on
the proposed "air cannon" on the Nahanni river.
I'm
pleased to report that the Environmental Assessment was
ordered Friday April 5, 2002. Thanks to all of you who helped
to make this happen! Apart from the hopefully positive outcome
of the EA this process will also buy some time for the land
claim negotiations to be finalized. It will also send a strong
message to both the National Energy Board and all other
resource extraction interests to think twice before
threatening to develop the Nahanni area.
Interest
has been expressed by various Canadian
Government
departments for a full Environmental
Assessment
for all of the Nahanni Watershed.
When
this process gets farther along there may
be
need for the public to express their concern.
If
you want to you can get a head start on calling
for
a full environment assessment for the South
Nahanni
Watershed by emailing The National Energy Board,
Chief Conservation Officer, Terry
Baker,
tbaker@neb-one.gc.ca
You
can monitor the situation at:
Canadian
Parks
and Wilderness Society
http://cpaws.org
Mackenzie Valley Environmental
Impact
Review Board
http://www.mveirb.nt.ca/index.html
Thanks
again for helping!
Becky
Mason |
