Seismic test plan for Lancaster Sound unchanged

Natural Resources Canada has not revised its plans for seismic testing in Lancaster Sound, despite promises to do so after Inuit opposed the project during Arctic community consultations.

The tests, which would send sound waves through the water to allow mapping of underwater geographical features, prompted concern about impacts on marine wildlife and what would happen if oil and gas reserves were found.

Okalik Eegeesiak, president of the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, said she's bewildered and surprised by the decision not to make changes to the project. The association opposed the testing.

"I hope they're ready for another outcry from the communities, as well as from any other public out there who support Inuit and our position up here," she said.

Natural Resources Canada has submitted changes to proposed testing in a number of Arctic waterways, but none related to Lancaster Sound, the Nunavut Research Institute said.

The NRI must decide whether to grant a research licence for the project, andits decision is expectedFriday.

Alteration was expected

High Arctic MLA Ron Elliott said he wonders about the value of consultations if no action is taken to deal with the community's concerns.

"They've added ... one extra person to travel on the research vessel from the community to sort of be a monitor and observe what's going on," he said.

Donald James, chief geologist with the federal Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office, told CBC News in June that the plan would be altered.

"We're not going to be going out to collect the full range of seismic data in Lancaster Sound that we had set out to do," James said in June. "The science team is actively working on making some, we think, significant modifications to the survey to take us out of these sensitive areas."

Researchers have argued that any seismic data collected in Lancaster Sound could help efforts to determine whether it should be designated a marine conservation area.