Following news that Cliffs has suspended its environmental assessment for its Ring of Fire chromite mine, Noront announced that it is once again looking at the east-west road corridor into the mining development. The company also stated that its plans for development in the Ring of Fire have not changed in light of Cliffs’ announcement.
“In addition to supporting a North-South access route, Noront has always supported an East-West alternative approach for the development of the Ring of Fire that balances First Nations objectives, the environment and job growth,” said Paul Parisotto, Noront’s chairman and interim CEO in a press release.
“We’re confident this alternative will be attractive to each level of government, the local communities and the people who will benefit from this sensible approach to stimulating development in the Ring of Fire,” Parisotto added.
The east-west corridor was originally proposed by Noront as a transportation corridor linking the Ring of Fire to the existing highway system at Pickle Lake. A similar route was proposed by four Matawa communities – Neskantaga, Nibinamik, Eabametoong and Webequie – as a way to connect their communities to the southern highway grid through the development.
“By taking control of our traditional homeland, we can ensure that our communities really benefit in meaningful and long-term ways from the potential development in the Ring of Fire,” said Eabametoong Chief Harry Papah in March 2012.
But the east-west corridor has been largely ignored since Cliffs and Ontario endorsed the north-south highway, between Nakina and the Ring of Fire, in May 2012. Soon after that endorsement Noront went on record saying it too supported the north-south transportation corridor.
Now however, following Cliffs announcement on June 12 that it was suspending the environmental assessment process for its chromite project, Noront is pushing the east-west corridor again.
The Toronto-based company said the east-west all-weather road would include access for local communities and allow for early development in the Ring of Fire.
“The proposed route would build upon existing winter roads to minimize environmental impact and cost,” Noront said in a press release. “As a result, this routing would also directly benefit four Matawa First Nations and be developed in a more timely fashion.”
Noront also said it is pushing ahead with its environmental assessment for its Eagle’s Nest project and still intends to submit an EA to the provincial government this autumn.