RE: hope is dwindling The RR is the not only way to go which is obvious... one could build a road or a RR, .. however the logical way is a RR.... we know for a fact the ROF will be opening up once access by Rail or Road becomes a reality... and one will become a reality regardless.... however the logical route is rail... what is the main concern of the First Nations people? It is the effect that these mines will have on the environment, and what effect do you think some 300 trucks and the supply trucks to service the camps are going to have on the environment? - How about the air quality- possible diesel spills- how about fire's (smoking and flicking your butts out the window) or potential accidents (of which is a given). What effect will this have on the North Land, on the wildlife, and the streams and rivers that supply fish, fresh water to the FN communities? Should we not be concerned about the effect these vehicles are going to have on the environment. and this is for one mine... how many trucks will Noront be requiring to haul their goodies out of the first Nations back yard to a smelter ... is it another 20... 50... 100 trucks per day... maybe it's 200 ?.... by the time whoever get around to agreeing on developing a RR that stretch of road will be bumper to bumper with trucks going both ways- maybe we should supply the FN with gas masks a wee bit of an exageration but hopefully you get the point. ... and then we have the first nation people trying to use that road as well.... I'm not saying keep the FN people isolated by no means but something has to be done to bring them access as well.
The RR will allow a continious supply of ore to flow with the lease amount of an affect on the environment and can continually run regardless of weather and road conditions and with no fear of animals, tourists, First Nations or the reality of drunks on the road, especially on weekends.
I drove highway a good number of years and the concerns we had driving the rockies were tourists, drunks animals weather and road conditions in both the summer and winter not to mention driver error- with too much speed combined with lack of road experience. Every trip I took I saw a minimum of one accident. All of these scenarios could be the cause of an ecological disaster effecting the main water and food source for the FN community. IF a person thinks that an ecological disaster won't happen over the life expectantcy of the mine I would say that individual is in la la land with his or her head stuck up their orfus... come out for some air... give your head a shake... and realize the advantages of rail over road. The chance of an ecological disaster increases with every vehicle on the road. One mine is bad enough... could you imagine 2, 3 or 4 mines using that same NS access as well as all the supply vehicles. Put the RR in now and be done with it. One inital cost of which can and will be recouped by all who use it and by doing so we will keep our North land pristine for years to come and for all future generations.