Consultation in Progress

ENGO participation in the Information Session on Proposed Amendments to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations

When: February 20, 2008
Where: Place Vincent Massey, 351 Rue St. Joseph, Gatineau ,QC

The RCEN has selected four (4) ENGO delegates to participate in an information session on proposed amendments to the Metal Mining Effluent Regulations (MMER) to add lakes as tailings impoundment areas (TIAs) to Schedule 2 of the Regulations.

The selected delegates are:

• Brenda Kelley, Bathurst Sustainable Development, NB
• Catherine Coumans, Mining Watch Canada, ON
• Judy Parkman, Recycling Organization Against Rubbish (R.O.A.R.), BC
• Chad Griffiths, Trout Pond Action Group, NL and Labrador
• Alternate: Jean Paul L'Italien, Comité de développement durable du Nord-ouest du Nouveau-Brunswick, NB

Delegate Submissions to Environment Canada:

• Bathurst Sustainable Development

For information about current ENGO participation in consultations on Proposed Amendments to the MMER - Schedule 2, please click here.

It is anticipated that the information session will take place in January 2008. The session will consist of a meeting in the Ottawa/Gatineau area with participants in other locations connected by teleconference. The session will provide participants with background information on the proposed amendments and provide an opportunity to seek technical clarification. The objective is to ensure that participants have all information needed to be in a position to provide informed, constructive comments on the proposed amendments to EC as part of the public review period, should the proposed amendments be approved and published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

Background Information

At the request of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), EC is administering the process of proposing the addition of two natural fish-bearing lakes to Schedule 2 of the MMER, thereby designating these lakes as TIAs. The lakes in question are associated with two proposed gold mines in Nunavut, the Doris North Project and the Meadowbank Project.

Environmental assessments (EAs) have been completed for both Projects that included detailed assessments of alternatives to the use of the lakes as TIAs, and the EAs concluded that the projects may proceed. The project proponents and DFO officials have come to agreement on the components of the habitat compensation plans that are required under section 27.1 of the MMER. There was consultation as part of both the EAs, including Aboriginal consultation. All documents and correspondence related to the EAs is available at: http://nirb.nunavut.ca/

Additional information on the MMER amendment process and the RCEN’s involvement in the MMER-MAG can be consulted on the Mining Caucus webpage.

For more information, please contact Daniel Casselman, National Caucus Coordinator, tel: (613) 728-9810 ext.236.