Hearings this week on Ekati diamond mine's Jay pipe expansion

The Mackenzie Valley Environmental Impact Review Boardkicksoff a series of public hearings about Dominion Diamond Corporation's proposed expansion of the Ekati diamond mine in Yellowknife today.

The hearings will focus on the Jay project's potential environmental impacts. The declining Bathurst caribou herd is expected to be a key topic of conversation.

Hearings take place today at Yellowknife's Explorer Hotelfrom 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and then from 6 p.m. on. Additional Yellowknifesessions will be at the Explorer Hotel on Tuesday, and on Wednesday at the Tree of Peace Friendship Centre on 51stStreet near Franklin Avenue.

The hearings will continue in Behchokoat the cultural centreThursday from 1 to 8 p.m. and in Lutsel K'e Friday from 1 to 8 p.m. at the Lockhart Centre.

Dominion Diamonds announced Thursday it wants to start construction on a different, already permitted diamond pipe in the first half of next year. Without either expansion, Ekati will close in the next four to five years.