From: benoit_ritchie@hotmail.com on behalf of France Benoit [france@francebenoit.com]
Sent: January 12, 2009 1:23 PM
To: lpayette@nirb.ca
Subject: Uravan Garry Lake Project, NIRB File 08EN037

Follow Up Flag: Follow up
Flag Status: Red
Leslie Payette
Nunavut Impact Review Board

I am writing to express my concern at Uravan's application for mineral exploration on the Beverly calving ground, and ask that their application be rejected by your board.  

We are well aware of the migration of the Beverly caribou herd from its winter range in northern Saskatchewan, through the Northwest Territories to the calving ground in Nunavut. Results of various surveys clearly show a significant decline in the number of adult female caribou.  The extent of the actual decrease in the population is still unknown and I would argue that it is therefore imperative to use the precautionary principle until we have exact figures.  

Also, I would like to caution the board in allowing uranium exploration to take place in Nunavut.  I would invite you to consider recent decisions by the Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Board in the upper Thelon River Basin, decisions which have given a strong consideration to indigenous cultural rights and practices.  I am not sure if the people of Nunavut want to attach themselves to an industry which has caused so much pain and destruction . The nuclear industry is going through a brieff renaissance of late due to claims of clean energy and low carbon emissions. Although this could be true for the actual production of energy, the exploration, exploitation, transportation is far from being low carbon, especially when all of this would take place in the Canadian Arctic.  Need I mention the nuclear waste that the environment and Canadian taxpayers would gave to live with. The people of Deline in the NWT had to apologize to the people of Japan when they found the uranium they had mined was used on Hiroshima. Let's learn from history for a change. 

For all those reasons, I am requesting the board to reject Uravan's application.

France Benoit
Yellowknife, NT



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