Development Issues on Caribou Range
Summaries of Selected Projects Currently Proposed on the BQCMB Range
In early 2021, the BQCMB heard presentations about four proposed projects with the potential to impact the Beverly and Qamanirjuaq range. We developed short summaries of each of these proposed projects.
Summary: June, 2021 – Slave Geological Province Corridor (NWT).
Summary: June, 2021 – Taltson Hydroelectricity Expansion Project (NWT).
Summary: June, 2021 – Highway 914 Extension Proposal (SK).
Summary: June, 2021 – Kivalliq Hydro-Fibre Link (MB-NU).
Project Review Comments
A key role of the BQCMB is to respond to issues and provide comments on the concerns facing barren grounds caribou in northern Canada.
These comments are on a range of issues including habitat protection, land use planning, harvesting, and mineral exploration and development projects.
Click on the selections below to expand the list of Project Review Comments and Other Comments and Presentations.
January, 2022 – comments to SK-MOE on Highway 914 Extension Project
June, 2019 – comments to NIRB on Agnico Eagle’s “Whale Cove Area, Exploration Projects” Proposal.
June, 2018 – comments to NIRB on Agnico Eagle’s “Whale Cove Area, Exploration Projects” Proposal.
May, 2018 – comments to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) regarding North Country Gold Corp.’s (NCGC) “Gibson MacQuoid Gold Project” proposal
January, 2018 – BQCMB’s amended comments to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) regarding Agnico Eagle “John Tugak’s Huckleberry Claim”.
September, 2017– BQCMB screening comments on the joint proposal from the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (KitIA) and Government of Nunavut (GN) for the Grays Bay Road and Port (GBRP) project.
August 19, 2015– Kiggavik Project – BQCMB letter to Minister supporting NIRB Final Report and recommendation that the Kiggavik project “should not proceed at this time”
May 14, 2015– BQCMB Comments: BBC “One Planet: Grasslands” project proposal.
May 7, 2015– BQCMB comments on CBC’s Wild Canadian Year Productions proposal to film in the Queen Maud Gulf Migratory Bird Sanctuary
March 14, 2015– Kiggavik Final Hearing – BQCMB Closing Statement
March 14, 2015– Kiggavik Final Hearing – BQCMB Presentation – Technical Session
March 14, 2015– Kiggavik Final Hearing – BQCMB Presentation – Community Roundtable
January 29, 2015 – Kiggavik Project – Letter of Support to Baker Lake HTO
January 16, 2015 – Kiggavik Project – BQCMB Comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)
February 25, 2013 – Kiggavik Project – BQCMB Comments to NIRB on the Kiggavik technical review timeline
March 21, 2011– Comments on Uranium North Resources’ Mallery Lake proposal to explore for gold about 135 km southwest of Baker Lake.
February 1 , 2011– Comments on review process for AREVA’s proposed Kiggavik uranium mine and mill project near Baker Lake, Nunavut.
March 21, 2011– Comments on Uranium North Resources’ Mallery Lake proposal to explore for gold about 135 km southwest of Baker Lake.
January 24, 2011– Comments on the draft scope and draft EIS guidelines for AREVA’s proposed Kiggavik mine and mill project.
July 27, 2009– Uranium North Resources (application for a one-year extension to its land use permit to conduct uranium exploration in the Amer Lake area, 150 km north-northwest of Baker Lake and about 60 km east of the traditional Beverly calving ground).
April 2, 2009– Western Uranium Corporation (application for a second one-year extension to its land use permit for the “Thelon Basin” uranium exploration project, which lies on the traditional calving ground of Beverly caribou, northeast of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary).
January 12, 2009– Comments on the draft EIS guidelines for Uravan’s Garry Lake project.
March 26, 2009– Titan (application for a one-year extension to its land use permit for the “Thelon” uranium exploration project, which lies on the traditional calving ground of Beverly caribou, northeast of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary).
January 12, 2009– Comments on the draft EIS guidelines for Uravan’s Garry Lake project.
November 5, 2008–Presentation to NIRB’s Uravan-Garry Lake Scoping and Guideline Development Workshop, held in Baker Lake, Nunavut.
October 29, 2008–Comments on the draft scope of NIRB’s review of Uravan’s proposed Garry Lake uranium exploration project.
September 15, 2008–Comments on a February 2007 report prepared by Golder Associates Ltd. entitled Report on Qualitative Assessment of the Cumulative Effect from UR-Energy’s Exploration Program on the Beverly Caribou Herd.
July 18, 2009– Kivalliq Energy Corp. (proposed uranium exploration for its Angilak Project, west of Whale Cove and southwest of Baker Lake, Nunavut).
June 29, 2008–Forum Uranium (proposed uranium exploration for its North Thelon Project, in the Schultz Lake area west of Baker Lake).
June 17, 2008– Uranium North (proposed uranium exploration near Dubawnt Lake, about 320 kilometres southwest of the community of Baker Lake).
June 9 , 2008–Further comments on Uravan’s proposed Garry Lake uranium exploration project, as requested by NIRB.
May 23, 2008– Further comments on four upper Thelon uranium exploration proposals undergoing environmental assessment by the MVEIRB. The proposals include Bayswater’s Crab Lake project, Bayswater’s El Lake project, Uravan’s South Boomerang Lake project and Uravan’s North Boomerang Lake project.
April 28, 2008– Pacific Ridge Exploration Ltd. (extension and amendment to Pacific Ridge’s land use permit for mineral exploration on its Baker Lake project near the Kazan River.)
April 23, 2008– Uravan (proposed uranium exploration project on its Garry Lake property, which lies on Beverly caribou traditional calving ground, northeast of the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary.)
April 17, 2008– Ur-Energy (proposed Nowleye Lake/BUGS uranium exploration project, mid-way between Baker Lake, Nunavut and Stony Rapids, Saskatchewan).
March 17, 2008– Cameco Corporation (proposed uranium exploration on its Turqavik and Aberdeen properties northwest of Baker Lake).
March 4, 2008– Matrix Aviation (proposal to haul fuel and supplies from Baker Lake and Rankin Inlet to mineral exploration camps within the Kivalliq Region, Nunavut).
February 8, 2008– Comments on workplans developed by MVEIRB for conducting the environmental assessments of four uranium exploration proposals in the upper Thelon Basin: the Crab Lake project (Bayswater), the El Lake project (Bayswater), the South Boomerang Lake project (Uravan), and the North Boomerang Lake project (Uravan).
February 8, 2008– Bayswater’s North Thelon project proposal, which would see uranium exploration activities being conducted on Beverly calving and post-calving areas in 2008.
September 5, 2007– Ur-Energy (BQCMB letter of support for MVEIRB recommendations on Ur-Energy proposal for uranium exploration near Screech Lake, Upper Thelon watershed, NWT.
August 10, 2007– Bayswater Uranium Corporation (proposal to conduct mineral exploration activity in the areas of Crab Lake and El Lake, Upper Thelon watershed, NWT). Comments submitted to MVLWB.
June 26, 2007–Terrane Metals Corp. (permit renewal for mineral exploration at Maze Lake, Nunavut). Comments submitted to NIRB.
June 22, 2007–Forum Uranium Corporation (proposed exploration in the Schultz Lake area west of Baker Lake, Nunavut). Comments submitted to NIRB.
March 24, 2007– Cameco Corporation (Aberdeen-Turqavik project proposal). Comments submitted to NIRB.
March 12, 2007– Western Uranium Corporation (Thelon Basin project proposal). Comments submitted to NIRB.
March 2, 2007–Starfield Resources Inc. (Ferguson Lake project proposal). Comments on Starfield’s response to comments from parties. Submitted to NIRB.
February 12, 2007–Post-hearing recommendations from the BQCMB and the NWT Government regarding Ur-Energy’s proposed uranium exploration near Screech Lake, NWT. Comments submitted to MVEIRB.
February 1, 2007–Starfield Resources Inc. (Ferguson Lake project proposal). Comments submitted to NIRB.
January 15, 2007–Comments on barren-ground caribou and cumulative effectsprovided for the MVEIRB’s Environmental Assessment Public Hearing in Lutselk’e, NWT, regarding Ur-Energy’s proposed uranium exploration near Screech Lake, NWT.
January 15, 2007–Presentation, with maps, to the MVEIRB’s Environmental Assessment Public Hearing in Lutselk’e, NWT, regarding Ur-Energy’s proposed uranium exploration near Screech Lake, NWT.
November 1, 2006–Ur-Energy (information requests relating to environmental assessment of proposed exploration near Screech Lake, NWT). Comments submitted to MVEIRB.
October 5, 2006–Ur-Energy (draft workplan for environmental assessment of proposed exploration near Screech Lake, NWT). Comments submitted to MVEIRB.
August 18, 2006–Ur-Energy (land use application to conduct exploration near Screech Lake, NWT). Comments submitted to MVLWB.
August 4, 2006–Pacific Ridge (application amendment for exploration near Kazan River, Nunavut). Comments submitted to NIRB.
July 26, 2006–Pacific Ridge (proposed exploration near Kazan River, Nunavut). Comments submitted to NIRB.
April 10, 2006–Uravan Minerals (Boomerang Lake, NWT, project proposal). Comments submitted to MVLWB.
December, 2017 – comments intended to assist the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) with its goal of developing a new Mineral Resources Act August 7, 2007– Response to assessment of Caribou Protection Measures, prepared for INAC by Anne Gunn and co-authors. Comments submitted to INAC. June 6, 2007– Presentation to the Nunavut Planning Commission’s uranium workshop reviewing the social, cultural, economic and environmental aspects of uranium exploration and development. March 28, 2007– Presentation to a Government of Nunavut/Department of Environment uranium workshop entitled “Cumulative Impacts in the Thelon Geological Basin.” May 1, 2006–NTI (draft uranium policy and draft consultation document). Comments submitted to NTI. April 13, 2006–NTI (process and content of draft uranium policy and draft consultation document). Comments submitted to NTI.