Environmental Agreements

Environmental agreements are legally binding, project-specific, multi-party contracts that establish the roles of the developer, INAC, other government departments, Aboriginal organizations and affected parties during the various phases of a major project such as a diamond mine. These agreements ensure that the environmental monitoring and mitigation measures support an integrated environmental management regime.

INAC provides support services to the parties to environmental agreements, works closely with independent monitoring agencies that may be created through these agreements, and participates in the negotiation of any amendments to environmental agreements. The Environmental Assessment and Agreement Section of Environment and Conservation provides both a coordination and advisory role with respect to federal government obligations and responsibilities related to the agreements and inter-agency working committees.

Copies of environmental agreements and information about monitoring agencies are available at:

• Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency for BHP Billiton's Ekati Diamond Mine™ www.monitoringagency.net  
• Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board for the Diavik Diamond Mine www.emab.ca 
• Snap Lake Environmental Monitoring Agency for the De Beers Snap Lake Diamond Mine www.slema.ca  

For more information:

• Phone the Environmental Assessments and Agreements Section at (867) 669-2590.
• Email NWTEnvironment@inac-ainc.gc.ca.