Environment and Conservation
September 11, 2015

Environmental Assessment Bulletin

The Honourable Dan Crummell, Minister of Environment and Conservation, has announced the following events relative to Part 10 Environmental Assessment of the Environmental Protection Act.

UNDERTAKING REGISTERED:

Roy's Knob - Labrador City Quartzite Mine        (Reg. 1809)
Proponent: FerroQuartz Labrador Inc.

The proponent proposes to expand and operate and then decommission and reclaim a former quartzite mine approximately six kilometres north-northwest of Labrador City. The existing mine was in operation from 1999 to 2008 by Shabogamo Mining and Exploration Ltd. The high grade quartzite was crushed and screened onsite then transported by truck to a processing facility in Wabush where the material was washed and sorted. The final product was transported by railway to Quebec and smelted. The proponent plans to expand the previous operation to include crushing, screening, washing and sorting onsite. The footprint may also be expanded by an additional 18.4 hectares within the mineral licence to accommodate material storage and processing, if required.

The undertaking was registered on September 9, 2015; the deadline for public comments is October 16, 2015; and the minister's decision is due by October 24, 2015.

UNDERTAKING RELEASED:

Wabush 3 Open Pit Mine Project        (Reg. 1711)
Proponent: Iron Ore Company of Canada

On September 10, 2015, the Minister of Environment and Conservation informed the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) that under the authority of Section 67(3) (a) of the Environmental Protection Act, the Lieutenant-Governor in Council has released Wabush 3 Open Pit Mine Project from further environmental assessment, subject to the following terms and conditions:

1. IOC shall adhere to all mitigation, monitoring and commitments stated in the Environmental Impact Statement submitted August 8, 2014, and the Environmental Impact Statement amendment submitted March 3, 2015;
2. IOC shall prepare a benefits plan to the satisfaction of the Minister of Natural Resources, prior to the commencement of site development activities, and IOC shall be bound by that benefits plan;
3. IOC shall prepare and submit a gender equity and diversity plan to the satisfaction of the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, the Minister of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development, and the Minister of Natural Resources, before beginning site development activities, and IOC shall be bound by that gender equity and diversity plan;
4. IOC shall prepare and submit environmental effects monitoring plans, in consultation with applicable divisions of the departments of the government of the province, and submit them to the Minister of Environment and Conservation, and receive the minister's approval for the Environmental Effects Monitoring Plans, before the start of any site specific construction.
5. The environmental effects monitoring plans referred to in paragraph (d) shall cover the following valued ecosystem components and be developed to monitor effects as a result of the Wabush 3 Open Pit Mine Project and to ensure that any changes to existing baseline as a result of it are documented and mitigated against:
   1. water resources;
   2. air quality; and
   3. noise and vibration.
6. IOC shall prepare an annual report of the results of the environmental effects monitoring plans required under paragraph (d) obtained at all monitoring sites and shall make the report results available publicly;
7. IOC shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Department of Environment and Conservation, Water Resources Management Division, for the installation of a real time water quality/quantity monitoring network to monitor impacts on flow and water quality in and around the proposed mining project.
8. the memorandum of agreement referred to in paragraph (g) shall be signed and the network installed before the start of site development activities, and all costs shall be borne by IOC;
9. IOC shall prepare and submit an environmental protection plan for all applicable construction and operation activities to the Minister of Environment and Conservation for approval before the start of any site specific construction; and
10. the environmental protection plan referred to in paragraph (i) shall describe the environmental protection and mitigation measures that will be applied throughout the life of the Wabush 3 Open Pit Mine Project to avoid or minimize potential negative effects on the environment associated with the project.

ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE APPOINTED:

St. Lawrence AGS Vein Fluorspar Mine        (Reg. 1794)
Proponent: Canada Fluorspar (NL) Inc.

On August 31, 2015 the minister advised the proponent that an Environmental Preview Report (EPR) is required for this project. An Environmental Assessment Committee has now been appointed to provide scientific and technical advice to the minister and to prepare draft guidelines for conducting the EPR. The Assessment Committee has representation from the following government agencies:

• Department of Environment and Conservation
  • Environmental Assessment Division - Committee Chairperson
  • Water Resources Management Division
  • Wildlife Division
  • Pollution Prevention Division
• Natural Resources
• Advanced Education and Skills
• Environment Canada
• Fisheries and Oceans Canada
• Health Canada

For further information on the environmental assessment process, please contact the Director of Environmental Assessment at 709-729-4211 or toll-free:
1-800-563-6181 or by mail to:

Director, Environmental Assessment Division
Department of Environment and Conservation
West Block, Confederation Building
P.O. Box 8700, St. John's, NLA1B 4J6

Public comments can be sent to EAprojectcomments@gov.nl.ca

Environmental assessment information is on the department website at: www.gov.nl.ca/env

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Media contact:

Jennifer Collingwood Director of Communications Department of Environment and Conservation 709-729-2575, 689-8605 JenniferCollingwood@gov.nl.ca

2015 09 11                              12:05 p.m.