NIRB posted its ministerial-extension request on Oct. 16 for file 26WN045, the Government of Nunavut’s application to renew Grise Fiord’s municipal water licence to 2047 and change it from Type B to Type A. The registry now lists the screening as active and the opportunity for the proponent to respond to comments as extended. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The proposed amendment would support operation of Grise Fiord’s new water-treatment plant. It would allow withdrawal of up to 2,160 cubic metres a day from Airport River during the seasonal collection period to fill three storage tanks with a combined capacity of 13,200 cubic metres. NIRB says the proposal is intended to give the community more flexibility to collect, treat and store drinking water for year-round use. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗

The minister must decide whether to grant the requested extension. NIRB’s screening remains unfinished; its public comment period ended Sept. 29, and the Government of Nunavut is responding to comments received from regulators. A later screening decision would still not itself issue the water licence, which is before the Nunavut Water Board.

Project number: 26WN045. Project name: Renewal and Amendment of Water Licence 3BM-GRI2636 to Type A. Applicant: Government of Nunavut, Municipal Works Division. NIRB accepted the proposal as complete Sept. 4 and began public comments Sept. 8. The application does not propose a new water source: Airport River would remain the community’s primary source. NIRB’s project summary says the proposed maximum daily withdrawal is about 0.9 per cent of the river’s observed average daily flow and that withdrawal and recirculation volumes would be monitored. ᓇᑭᓐᖔᖅᓯᒪᓂᖏᑦ↗