News From Around the Nation

Grand Council of Crees, Quebec, Canada

Geomega Resources Inc. is pleased to announce the Company has signed a Pre-Development Agreement for its Montviel Rare Earths Project with the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Regional Authority and the Cree First Nation of Waswanipi. The PDA has been developed on the principle of mutual respect between the parties, and the interests of all stakeholders in seeing the establishment of a successful mining venture at Montviel. It provides for business and employment opportunities for the Crees during the period of pre-development activities leading up to a potential production decision at the project, the completion of a comprehensive Business and Employment Capacity Study to assess the full potential for Cree business and employment opportunities from an eventual Montviel Rare Earths Mine, and the creation of a joint communication strategy. In addition, the PDA provides for Cree assistance in the preparation of an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Montviel, and any other relevant environmental and social assessment studies. The PDA builds upon good faith dialogue between the parties, and contemplates the completion of a subsequent Social and Economic Participation Agreement.

Dine, New Mexico, United States

The U.S. 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has approved a motion by several environmental groups to intervene in a lawsuit involving mandated pollution controls at the 2,040-megawatt San Juan Generating Station. The New Mexico plant is believed to be the first facility required to adhere to a regional haze program, according to an environmental spokesman. The 1999 regional haze program under the Clean Air Act is designed to protect areas of “great scenic importance”—certain national parks, wilderness areas, national memorials and international parks—from manmade air pollution. Besides the San Juan Citizens Alliance, groups seeking to intervene include Dine’ Citizens against Ruining Our Environment (Dine’ CARE), Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association and New Energy Economy.

Assembly of First Nations, Canada

Several First Nations leaders and aboriginal business proponents will spend 10 days in China discussing business opportunities with the growing Asian nation. From October 21 to 31, Atleo and a group of First Nations leaders and business people will explore economic-development partnership opportunities with Chinese government officials and Chinese businesses. The trip builds on previous trips to China made by British Columbia chiefs in May and August. The AFN has been working closely with several First Nations, particularly the British Columbia First Nations Energy and Mining Council. The AFN and British Columbia First Nations officials also worked with the Embassy for the Peoples Republic of China, the Canadian government and its consulate office in Beijing. The delegation will be hosted by the Friendship Association for Foreign Countries of China.

Anchorage, Alaska, United States

The Fire Island Wind Project in Anchorage, Alaska, has received regulatory approval to become the first independently owned commercial-scale wind power project in the state. Project owner Cook Inlet Region, Inc. (CIRI), an Alaska Native corporation, has teamed up with Summit Power Group, a Seattle, Washington-based clean energy developer, to pursue building and operating the wind farm located on Fire Island in Cook Inlet, just three miles west of Anchorage. The project, developed by Summit Power, will be owned and operated by Fire Island Wind LLC (FIW), a wholly owned subsidiary of CIRI. The power purchase agreement, approved by the Regulatory Commission of Alaska, confirms that Alaska’s largest electric utility Chugach Electric Association (Chugach), will buy the power produced by the Fire Island wind project. This approval resolves the final regulatory barrier to construction of the project, which will be Alaska’s largest wind power project

Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation, Manitoba, Canada

A new, $1-million interpretive trail and boardwalk next to the Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve will make the wetlands more accessible and highlight many of their unique and rare features. The Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve was established in 2004. The 563-hectare parcel of land is located along PTH 59 northeast of the Brokenhead Ojibway First Nation and features 23 species of provincially rare and uncommon plants, 28 of 36 native orchid species including the ram’s head lady’s slipper (Cypripedium arietinum) and eight of Manitoba’s 10 species of carnivorous plants. This initiative supports the province’s trail-based tourism strategy, which focuses on engaging tourism and service providers to capitalize on the potential of outdoor recreational tourism. Since 2001, the province has invested more than $27 million in trails funding including $12.8 million for Winnipeg trails and $1.4 million to complete the Border to Beaches active transportation route, which stretches 370 kilometres from the Ontario border to the beaches of Lake Winnipeg.

Oneida Indian Nation, New York, United States

The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal from the Oneida Indian Nation claiming that it was underpaid for over 250,000 acres in onetime tribal lands in upstate New York that changed hands more than 150 years ago. The justices left in place a federal appeals court ruling that threw out the Oneidas land claims.