Strategic resolution of policy, environmental and socio-economic impacts in Canadian Arctic diamond mining: BHP's NWT diamond project

Abstract

BHP's Northwest Territories Diamond Project (EKATI™) illustrates how a two-step process consisting of an environmental impact assessment review followed by parallel permitting and negotiated agreements resolved an array of interdependent policy, environmental, social-impact, legal/administrative and economic issues in the remote Canadian Arctic. The process bridged problems of intercultural communications between a multinational corporation, four small Aboriginal groups and officials working in a period of transition within government. The proposal proceeded because of participants' good faith, good science, public consultation, sound process management, mitigable impacts and shrewd ministerial handling.