First Nation next to planned fracking sand mine says environmental concerns 'have already been dealt with'

The chief ofa Manitoba First Nation adjacent to a future frack sandmine says his community's leadership doesn't share environmental concerns raised by others about the development.

Hollow Water First Nation Chief Larry Barker says his community isin support of the mine.

"We did our homework, we had numerous meetings with the company and any environmental concerns have already been dealt with," Barker said in a news release. "The plant is going to have the best ventilation available."

Barker responded Tuesday to reporting last month where critics allegeda proposed frack sand mine along the east shore of Lake Winnipeg would create health and water quality problems, such as exposure to tiny sand particles described as acancer risk.

The development willdig for high-purity quartz sandneeded by drillers fracking for oil and gas. The company behind the mine hopes to start building next year.

It has rights to more than2,700 acres of land with an estimated resource of 600 million tonnes.

I really don't care what environmentalists have to say about it.-Hollow Water First Nation Chief Larry Barker

NDPenvironment criticRob Altemeyerargued in the legislature last month that the mine's neighbours weren't properly consulted. He said members of the Hollow Water community were in the legislature gallerythat day, joining his call formore input.

Three days later, Canadian Premium Sand, which ownsthe proposed development, about 200kilometres northeast of Winnipeg, announced it hadreached aneconomic agreement with Hollow Water First Nation. The media release said employment, contracting and training initiatives would be providedto community members.

First Nation expects 150 jobs

"This is an economic development deal that will see our community benefit by providing up to 150 jobs and a sense of pride that we are doing something for our people," Barker said. "I really don't care what environmentalists have to say about it."

BronwynWeaver, a spokesperson for Canadian Premium Sand, said environmental concerns have been top of mind for the company.

"We will have air monitors and there will be third-party air monitoring all the time to make sure that our operations are not contributing in any way to any kind of a hazard for our workforce, as well as for the community at large," she said.

In addition to air quality monitoring, she said the mine willrecycleits water and the company willensure no water will be used fromLake Winnipeg or releasedback into the lake.

Further consultations with neighbours will take place once the company's environmental licensing plan is submitted, she said.

Each year, Canadian Premium Sand expects to restorethe five hectares of land itprocessed the year before, she added.

A 2014 technical review for the projectstates the companycandig for nearly26 million tons of silica sand deposits.

The aggregate wouldbe shipped by truck to Winnipeg and transported by rail across the continent.

Nearly $100 million to build mine

She said the economic windfall for the region, around Seymourville, Man., issignificant.

In addition to the expected 150 jobs for the next half-century, Weaversaid Canadian Premium Sand would invest around $100 million to develop the mine, and spend millions annually on salaries.

It could generate at least $235 million in frack sand revenues per year, at current prices.

The firm expects Alberta oil sands companies to become its customers, rather than buying fracking sand from existing deposits in Wisconsin.

Silica sand is also used in glassmaking, metal casting and chemical production, among other uses.