Health, Safety, Environment & Community
EKATI has an effects-monitoring programs for wildlife and aquatics.
The EKATI Diamond Mine is committed to health, safety, the environment and community (HSEC).
The mine has a number of health and safety initiatives and works with the local community to minimise any negative effects in the area. Our commitment to the environment covers working within a number of regulatory instruments and managing environmental impacts.
Health & Safety
Safety is the number one value at the EKATI Diamond Mine. Initiatives underway to manage and promote safety improvement include:
- In Control Project
- Occupational Hygiene Program
- Job Safety Observations, and
- Return to Work Program
Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is an integral part of operating at the EKATI Diamond Mine. JHA's ensure that workplace risks are managed in an open and proactive manner.
To ensure a healthy and safe work environment, the use of controlled substanced including alcohol and drugs are prohibited at the minesite.
Community
Throughout the exploration, development and construction of the EKATI Diamond Mine, BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. met with members of the surrounding Aboriginal and local communities, conducting site visits for community residents, and encouraging discussion and information exchanges on land use, potential employment and mine operations.
Through discussions with all the Aboriginal groups who historically shared the Lac de Gras area (Tlicho, Akaitcho Treaty 8, North Slave Metis Alliance and the Inuit of Kugluktuk with the Kitikmeot Inuit Association), voluntary Impact and Benefits Agreements (IBAs) were entered into with each group for employment, training, scholarships, community involvement, business opportunities, environmental mitigation, cultural sensitivity and traditional knowledge studies.
Communities affected by the project as defined by the Environmental Assessment Review Panel (EARP) are Yellowknife, the Tlicho communities of Behchoko, Wekweètì, Wha Tì, and Gamètì, the Metis of the North Slave Region, the Akaitcho Treaty 8 communities of Lutsel k'e, Dettah, N'dilo and the Inuit community of Kugluktuk.
BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc. continues to meet with the local and Aboriginal communities as well as local and the Government of the Northwest Territories, as part of our ongoing commitments under the Socio-Economic Agreement, Environment Agreement and IBAs.
We encourage employees to become involved in their communities and contribute their time to promote community wellbeing. Through the Community Partnership Program, contributions are made to groups or projects that support people and community development, promotes health, wellness and safety, are sustainable for the long-term and encourage traditional knowledge, skills and development.
Community Partnership Program Application (PDF 475KB)
Environment
The Arctic tundra and its natural resources are central to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of northern Aboriginal people, and to Canada as a whole. It is our responsibility to ensure that the tundra environment at the EKATI Diamond Mine is affected as little as possible.
Our standards are designed to minimise any adverse environmental impacts resulting from our operations.
Licences and permits
The EKATI Diamond Mine obtained various licences, permits, leases and authorisations during the regulatory phase of development. The regulatory processes were the most extensive seen in the Northwest Territories (NWT) to that date. (In Canada only uranium mines receive more attention.) Key regulatory instruments included:
- Class "A" and "B" Water Licences.
- Fisheries Authorisations
- Navigable Waters Protection Act Authorisation.
- Land leases, and
- Land Use Permit.
In addition to the regulatory requirements, an Environmental Agreement was negotiated with the Governments of Canada and the NWT to address environmental concerns that were not covered by existing legislation and regulation.
All the above serve to ensure that all aspects of land and water use are strictly overseen by government regulators, monitored by non-government agencies, and carefully managed by BHP Billiton Diamonds Inc.
Environmental management
Environmental stewardship of land and water at the EKATI Diamond Mine is governed by an operational environmental management plan, part of which includes effects-monitoring programs for wildlife and aquatics where traditional ecological and scientific knowledge complement each other. The monitoring results are reported annually. To date, there have been no significant adverse effects.
Wildlife
The region provides habitat for a number of large and small mammals. The Bathurst caribou herd migrates through the area during spring and fall/autumn. Grizzly bears, wolves, wolverine, arctic fox and red fox forage and den in the area. Other inhabitants include small mammals such as ground squirrels and arctic hares.
Ptarmigan and ravens are the only year-round resident birds. In the summer, raptors such as golden eagles, short-earred owls, hawks, peregrine falcons and gyrfalcons can be seen in the vicinity. Numerous perching birds and waterfowl nest around the mine but leave upon the approach of winter.
Fish species include lake trout, round whitefish, Arctic grayling, slimy sculpin, burbot and longnose sucker.
A 3.5-kilometre diversion channel moves water around the Panda and Koala pits, allowing fish passage and providing fish habitat.
Vegetation
Vegetation in the area includes water sedges, cotton grasses, dwarf birch, willows, Labrador tea, green alder and lichens. Berries abound, including crowberries, cranberries, blueberries, cloudberries and bearberries.
Traditional knowledge
At the EKATI Diamond Mine, we support traditional knowledge studies conducted by Aboriginal groups and incorporate it into our plans for monitoring and mitigating the impact of exploration and mining in the area.
