Here's one bad piece of art, given that the writer went as far as to make a prediction (and was wrong):
Puck drops today for Voisey's Bay project
Evening Telegram
Reporter: CHRIS FLANAGAN
98/05/01
Like the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League, the fate of the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company's 1997-98 campaign will be decided today.
The Voisey's Bay joint environmental assessment panel was to announce this afternoon whether it will accept the company's gigantic 2,000-page environmental impact assessment (EIS) document and let VBNC advance to the next round - in this case public hearings - or humiliate the company's environmental team and send it packing for Labrador.
The panel will only send the company back to the drawing board if there are "major deficiencies."
The stakes are steep for both teams.
A year ago, the Flyers made it to the finals and this year were expected to put up an even tougher fight. But after three losses in the first round they're nearly chumps, one bad night from humiliation.
If the Flyers don't win tonight, wonder boy Eric Lindros may be traded to Toronto (or New York) and general manager Bobby Clark could be shopping for another team. Season ticket holders may revolt.
A year ago the Voisey's Bay Nickel Company was skating towards a champion mine/mill and smelter/refinery and was expected to be in the thick of a major construction schedule in 1998.
But after three setbacks - a court decision denying infrastructure construction; a huge drop in world nickel prices; and a unanimous call for a writedown - VBNC is at least a year behind schedule and one bad day from humiliation.
If VBNC doesn't receive approval for its EIS, company president Stew Gendron could be sent to Toronto (or Sudbury) and Inco chairman Michael Sopko could be shopping for another mining company. Shareholders may revolt.
Granted, Sopko and Rick Gill have already stated 1998 is a writeoff as far as a construction start goes.
But the company has stated it may be entertaining starting infrastructure construction this year. With approval of the EIS today, hearings would run from June 8 to July 24 at the latest, and the environmental panel could theoretically pave the way for a permit by October.
VBNC could then start an airstrip and road system at Voisey's Bay this year, getting the jump on construction for 1999.
Combine that with new headway in negotiations with the province - Premier Brian Tobin confirmed Thursday a Telegram report indicating the negotiations are on an eight- to 10-week fast track, although the province is anticipating reduced nickel production - and it just might be a trophy year for VBNC.
There's even talk that Newfoundland's land claims settlement with the Labrador Inuit Association (which is crucial for VBNC's talks with the LIA) will wrap up in August when the lawyers dot the i's and cross the 255 million dollar signs.
But throw an EIS wrench into the works and the company will be banging its head against the wall, singing the corporate blues. Provincial talks could be delayed, impact-benefit agreements with aboriginal groups will stall.
Members of the joint environmental panel remained tight-lipped Thursday.
"I would say no comment," one of the five panel members said Thursday when asked if it was a tough decision.
Unfortunately The Telegram went to press long before the puck was dropped in Philadelphia and before the panel's decision was sent over the wire.
But if I were a betting man, I'd say good night Philly and hello Voisey's Bay public hearings on June 8. |
