Final Hearings for the
Jericho Diamond
Project
Presented in the Nunavut Communities of Cambridge Bay,
Kugluktuk and Gjoa Haven
January 5 – 9, 2004
Building a Project – Key Steps
•Vision
•Perseverance
•Cooperation
•Dedication
•Commitment
•Success
Material to be Presented or Available:
• General Overview of the Jericho Project
• Detailed information to be presented by Tahera’s
consultants as per their areas of expertise.
• EIS and Supplementary Information documents
• Posters
About Tahera Corporation:
• Publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TAH)
• Involved in diamond exploration in Nunavut since 1992
• Have discovered numerous kimberlites on property
Tahera Corporation:
• Will develop the Jericho Diamond Project for
purposes of extracting commercially saleable diamonds
• Will be developing the Company’s first mining project
with the aide of experienced mine builders (Nuna, SRK,
DRA)
• Will utilize local labour and services
• Have an Agreement in Principle for an Inuit Impact
Benefit Agreement (IIBA) with the Kitikmeot Inuit
Association (KIA)
• Will develop the Jericho Project with minimal impact
to the environment
Tahera Corporation: General Project Location
Tahera’s
Diamond
Projects
Tahera Corporation: Project Location - Regional
About the Jericho Diamond Project:
• Proposed 8 year mine life
• 300,000 tonnes of kimberlite processed each year
• Average diamond grade of 1.2 carats per tonne
•+ 3 million carats of diamonds recovered
•Open pit mining for 4 years
•Underground mining for 2 years
•Processing for minimum of 8 years
Project History:
• 1992/1993 EXTENSIVE STAKING, EXPLORATION
• 1995 DISCOVERED JERICHO PIPE
• Baseline studies begin
• 1996 MINI BULK SAMPLE JERICHO PIPE
• 1997 DELINEATE & BULK SAMPLE JERICHO PIPE
• Underground bulk sample: 9,400 tonnes treated
recovered 10,530 carats
• 1999 PREFEASIBILITY STUDY
• 2000 FEASIBILITY STUDY COMPLETED
• 2001 DRAFT EIS COMPLETED + PREHEARINGS
CONDUCTED
• 2003 FINAL EIS SUBMITTED
Development of the Environmental Impact Statement
•Draft EIS written based on the NIRB guidelines
•NIRB’s consultants provided a conformity analysis of the draft
EIS
•Final EIS completed to conform to guidelines and comments
received from Wilkinson and Associates
•Additional consideration was given to CEAA requirements
prior to finalizing Final EIS
•Information requests received in April and May 2003
•Supplementary information provided in October 2003
The Jericho Project: Section 12.5.5 (NLCA),
Matters Taken into Account (pg. 109-110)
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
Whether the project would enhance and protect the existing wellbeing of the residents and communities of the Nunavut
Settlement Area, taking into account the interests of other
Canadians;
Whether the project would unduly prejudice the ecosystemic
integrity of the Nunavut Settlement Area;
Whether the proposal reflects the priorities and values of the
residents of the Nunavut Settlement Area;
Steps which the proponent proposes to take to avoid and mitigate
adverse impacts;
Steps the proponent proposes to take, or that should be taken, to
compensate interests adversely affected by the project;
Posting of performance bonds;
The monitoring program that the proponent proposes to
establish, or that should be established, for ecosystemic and
socio-economic impacts; and
Steps which the proponent proposes to take, or that should be
taken, to restore ecosystemic integrity following project
abandonment.
Site Infrastructure and Mining
of the Jericho Diamond Project
Existing Jericho Site:
• Camp Site: 50 person
capacity
• Portal Site: Developed
by mining contractor
during bulk sampling
program
• Airstrip: Approximately
1 km in length with
landing lights
• All-season roads:
Approximately 3.5 km
Existing Jericho Camp:
Jericho Portal – Location of Jericho
Kimberlite
Jericho Project Site Plan
Schematic of the Jericho Pit & Underground
Workings
Jericho Mine Site Animation
Baseline Studies
Depth of Baseline Studies Completed
1995 - water quality, water chemistry, vegetation, wildlife, fisheries
1996 – meteorology, hydrology, water & sediment quality, bathymetry,
acid-base accounting, fisheries, wildlife, heritage, socio-economics
1997 – meteorology, snow depth, hydrology, water quality, and wildlife
1998 – meteorology, water and sediment quality, and fisheries
1999 – meteorology, hydrology, snow depth, water and sediment, quality,
vegetation, wildlife, fisheries, heritage, geotechnical investigations,
ore and waste rock characterization, spray irrigation
2000 – meteorology, hydrology, water and sediment quality,
geotechnical investigations, vegetation, wildlife, spray irrigation
2001 – meteorology, hydrology, water and sediment quality,
geotechnical investigations, vegetation, wildlife, spray irrigation
2002 – meteorology (operating under proposed joint venture)
2003 – meteorology, permafrost, soil and bedrock conditions,
water quality of small streams
Incorporation of Traditional Knowledge
Elders Site Visit
Incorporation of Traditional Knowledge
• Elders visits to Jericho Site in 1996 and 1999
•Allowed elders to see site first-hand
•Provided opportunity to discuss concerns
•Opportunity to bring elders together from different
communities
•Opportunity for elders to view archeological / heritage
resources work
•Elders knowledge confirmed and complimented scientific
data for area
•Ongoing community consultations in the communities of
Kugluktuk, Cambridge Bay, and Gjoa Haven. Consultations
have also taken place in Bathurst Inlet, and Bay Chimo
•Valuable information collected regarding Inuit culture and
values
Incorporation of Traditional Knowledge
• Influence on mine site development
•Planned mine infrastructure was altered due to caribou
migration routes
•Management Plans reflect significance placed on wildlife by
the Inuit culture
•Right of way on roads
•Special diversions to minimize impact of migrations
•Monitoring committees to ensure TK is adhered to
•Future additional insight from:
• Kitikmeot Traditional Knowledge Study.
•Ongoing community meetings
•IIBA will insure that TK continued
•Information gained by other mining companies
Heritage Studies:
Conducted by: Fedirchuk, McCullough and Associates in 1996 and 1999, coupled
with two site visits by Inuit elders from West Kitikmeot communities.
• Used to Identify and Evaluate heritage resources at the Jericho site that
might be disturbed or destroyed by project development.
Summary:
• one artifact of scientific and cultural interest was identified in 1996 and
further study recommended;
• the one artifact, consisting of an arrowhead and stone chips, was excavated
and mapped in 1999; the artefacts were curated by FMA and deposited in
Prince of Wales Heritage Museum pending establishment of an Inuit
heritage museum in Nunavut;
• Inuit elders did not identify any sites that were potential graves, nor express
any special concerns about project development.
Tahera’s Team:
Cam Scott – SRK Consulting – Geotechnical
Kelly Sexsmith – SRK Consulting – Water Quality
Pete McCreath – Clearwater Consultants Ltd - Water
Bruce Ott – AMEC – Vegetation and Discharge
Andre Sobolewski – Microbial Technologies - Water Treatment
Rick Pattenden – Mainstream Aquatics – Aquatics
Bob Humphries – Levelton Engineering - Air Quality
Ben Hubert – Hubert and Associates – Wildlife
Court Smith – Nuna Logistics – Abandonment and Reclamation
Robert Hornal – Robert Hornal and Associates - Socioeconomics
Andrew Gottwald – Vice President and CFO, Tahera Corp.
Letha MacLachlan – Legal Counsel